A man accused of stealing a unicorn purse and resisting arrest denied theft and claimed he acted in self-defence.

Daniel Robert Melhado, 34, of Booth House in the town centre, pleaded not guilty to theft, assault with intent to resist arrest and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour when he appeared before Swindon magistrates.

Prosecutor Michelle Hewitt said Melhado had reached over the counter at the Co-operative store, Cavendish Square, and taken a purse. He was then alleged to have assaulted a member of the shop’s security staff, Simon Lee Partridge, as he tried to detain Melhado and wait for police to arrive.

But Melhado denied the charges. He said he had not taken the purse and the security officer had assaulted him: “All I tried to do was get him off me.”

Magistrates bailed him for the trial on November 1.