A SHOPLIFTER who gave evidence against a dangerous drug dealer said the lives of his children were threatened.

Wesley Auburn was living on County Road when London heroin dealer Kelmoy Brown burst into his bedsit after stabbing a man on nearby Aylesbury Street on December 23 last year.

The 48-year-old former drug addict, who is now homeless, last week gave evidence at Brown’s trial. On Wednesday Brown, 24, was jailed for 12 years for grievous bodily harm.

This weekend, Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard Auburn had been warned against giving evidence against the drug dealer. Auburn told JPs he had been threatened: “If I ever grassed on him he’d kill my kids.” A CID detective had apparently also texted the homeless man, saying there was a price on his head.

Auburn appeared before Swindon magistrates on Saturday morning charged with five shoplifting offences and two assaults. He pleaded guilty to all charges.

Tony Nowogrodzki, defending, said his client was usually mild mannered and avoided confrontation with police or store detectives.

However, his worry over giving evidence at the crown court trial had made him extremely anxious. When he was confronted by staff at TK Maxx and the Beechcroft Road Co-op over his shoplifting he had been desperate to get away.

Auburn was said to be fearful of going to jail: “If he comes into contact with that person [Brown] in the prison regime he doesn’t know what will happen to him.”

Magistrates adjourned the case to Monday, June 8, for a probation service report. Auburn was remanded into custody.