A SEX offender with a lengthy record of flouting court orders begged magistrates to keep him locked up – until he could be found accommodation by the probation service.

But when the Swindon bench complied, jailing him for 20 weeks, Jake Morrish turned on the court. Appearing via video link from HMP Bristol, the 24-year-old only managed to get part way through an expletive-laden rant before he was cut off.

Morrish, of no fixed address, a convicted sex offender, admitted failing to sign on every seven days at Swindon police station. He also pleaded guilty to stealing clothes and soap powder from Matalan and Savers, failing to comply with post custodial supervision and breaching a community order.

Prosecuting, Kate Prince said Morrish had been found guilty at a trial on June 1 of stealing £100 of clothing from Matalan at Greenbridge retail park and £4 of washing powder from Savers. However, he failed to turn up to the court and was convicted in his absence.

And the defendant, speaking to magistrates from a video conferencing room at HMP Bristol, warned JPs that he would continue to commit crime if he were released from custody

Morrish, who chose to represent himself, said: “If I’m released from custody without an address this offence may happen again.

“I was just recommending that I’m not released from custody until I have a fixed address.”

Asked if he currently had anywhere he could stay, Morrish replied: “No, I don’t. That I was going to leave with you and probation.”

He suggested he was making efforts to change his ways: “I’m on a [methadone] script. I’m no longer using heroin. But if I’m released without an address, maybe I might start using heroin and I might go and rob someone again.”

Morrish asked magistrates to take into consideration the fact he had handed himself in. However, he concluded: “If I’m released without an address, the chances of me reoffending are really high.”

Jailing him, chairman of the bench Simon Wolfensohn told Morrish: “These are serious offences and you also have a significant history of failing to comply with orders.”

Upon hearing his sentence, Morrish, who at points during the hearing had play-acted a mime actor and gurned at the video link camera, lambasted JPs.

“Where is the justice?” he asked. “This doesn’t make any sense. When will I get somewhere to live so I don’t have to keep offending?”

Morrish has previously appeared in court for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend, breaching orders and sexual assault.