A HOMELESS alcoholic stole a pack of Carling larger and then threatened to kill the Co-op worker who chased after him, a court has heard.

Carl Hiett, 29, went into the store in High Street, Old Town, and put the boozy beverage worth £12 under his jacket.

But he did not conceal it well enough and was spotted by an employee.

Hiett was then followed towards Newport Street where he verbally abused the employee and raised a clenched fist in front of the employee’s face but did not hit him, Swindon Magistrates' Court was told on Friday.

“Hiett stopped to face [the employee] and kept saying he was going to murder him," prosecutor James Burnham told the court, after Hiett pleaded guilty.

“He was obviously trying to frighten [the employee] by using a horrible threat.”

Reading from the victim’s statement, Mr Burnham added: “'I told him there was no need for violence and to calm down and there was no point murdering me as it would only make things worse.'”

However Hiett then pulled a can from the pack and started gesturing aggressively towards the employee before repeating threats. He also suggested they should go to Lawn woods and ‘see what happens.’

While being interviewed by police, Hiett said he was ‘totally guilty’ and very drunk at the time of the incident on August 11 at 8.20pm.

Mr Burnham said: “He had been drunk all month and went in with no money fully intending to steal. He said he couldn’t believe he would make threats like that, he felt the man was making it up.

“He then conceded he was too drunk to remember anything that happened and clearly didn’t mean anything he said. If he intended to injure the man he could have done. Thankfully it ended up being empty threats.”

Alexis Pink, defending, said Hiett needed psychiatric help.

She said: “My client made full admissions and said he had very little memory. His memory only came back while watching himself on CCTV. He’s very embarrassed and has apologised for the way he acted.

“I’ve now met this gentleman a number of times and there are clearly some underlying mental health issues. Probation are also very concerned about his mental health and cannot recommend any programmes he is suitable for.

“He has been on drugs since he was 12 and got off them two years ago but found it difficult and had a break-down in November. He describes having paranoia, panic attacks and a mental pain.

“What all of this appears to stem back to when he was a victim of a very serious assault aged 19. He was beaten so significantly he still has scarring on his face and was unable to move for four days after. He was crying in the cells to me today and said he cannot move on from it.

“In relation to the offence he was heartbroken and had been on an alcohol binge. He is now three days sober.

“He is embarrassed when he sees people he went to school with and sees they work for the police and are married with children.

“He wants to make something of his life. He doesn’t want to be stuck in this cycle. He desperately wants that help.”

Bench chairman Felicity Dowell agreed to adjourn Hiett’s sentencing until he meets with a psychiatric nurse. In the meantime she released him on conditional bail and ordered him to stay out of the Co-op in Old Town.