COURT: An alleged thief failed to turn up at court because he got his dates muddled, magistrates were told.

Brett Segelov, 34, of Redcliffe Street, admitted failing to surrender to the court whilst on police bail.

The Rodbourne man faces further charges of thefts from cars at the County Ground, which he denies. Segelov says he is not the man identified by police from CCTV.

But he fully admitted getting his court appearance dates wrong. Segelov told bemused magistrates: “I turned up the day after. I got the 15th and the 16th the wrong way.”

When he knew there was a warrant out for his arrest after he failed to surrender Segelov made arrangements to hand himself in, he said.

For the failure to surrender, magistrates ordered him to pay a nominal £50 fine and £30 victim surcharge. Both were deemed paid by time served.

He will be tried for the theft charges at Swindon Magistrates Court on December 3.