A BURGLAR is back behind bars after he admitted trying car doors in east Swindon.

But the prolific one-armed thief, Vincent Sparkes, known locally by his nickname the Bandit, denied trying to steal from the cars.

Rather, the 39-year-old, of Carstairs Avenue, claimed he was drunkenly trying to retrieve his property from a friend’s vehicle.

Magistrates jailed him for 20 weeks. By pleading guilty to a charge of interfering with two vehicles in Eldene. Sparkes was also in breach of a suspended jail sentence made just a week before he tried car doors.

Prosecuting, Anna Humphreys told Swindon Magistrates’ Court that police were called on January 10 by someone claiming Sparkes had tried the handles of their car, parked on a driveway.

“They actually saw him doing it,” she said. The homeowners had CCTV footage of him trying the cars.

“They actually went out and said, ‘See you later, Vince, I’ve got you on CCTV.’”

Police went to Sparkes’ flat and arrested him. Despite answering “no comment” to investigators’ questions at interview, Sparkes admitted interfering with cars and appeared to be fully expecting to be sent to prison.

Black-haired Sparkes, dressed in a black and red tracksuit, sauntered into Court 1 followed by a member of security staff carrying his bulging suitcase.

Mark Glendenning, defending, said: “He had been with a friend the night before. His friend lives two or three doors up. He had left some belongings in that friends car.”

On his way homewards, he had got confused and tried the car doors thinking the vehicle was his friend’s, it was claimed.

Admitting it may have been foolish for his client to commit the offence in east Swindon, Mr Glendenning said: “He is known in the area.”

However, the solicitor told magistrates Sparkes was making good progress with the probation service on an order aimed at tackling his alcohol addictions.

He added of the vehicle interference: “This was not for theft. This was because he made a drunken mistake.”

Magistrates opted to activate Sparkes’ previous 20 week suspended jail sentence in full, sentencing him to a further two weeks imprisonment for interfering with cars. He must also pay a £115 victim surcharge.

Following the sentencing, A/Insp David Tippetts said: “It’s always pleasing to get a positive result at court for someone who is a prolific offender and officers’ work is recognised in that respect.

“If Sparkes continues to offend he will continue to be caught and put before the courts. That’s the bottom line. If people continue to commit crime, they have to pay the price for it.”