MAGISTRATES granted a Sainsbury’s shoplifter his wish to be sent to prison.

Homeless Martin Morgan admitted trying to steal three bottles of whiskey from the Brunel Centre store shortly after 2.30pm on September 10, telling the store manager trying to move him on: “I’m going to smash your face in, I’d love to smash your chin.”

Prosecuting, Kate Prince said staff had moved Morgan out the supermarket but the 34-year-old returned and tried to throw a punch at manager Craig Hussey, which the staff member managed to duck.

Morgan had an unenviable list of previous convictions, she added, with 134 theft offences on his record.

His conviction put him in breach of a 12-week suspended sentence imposed by Swindon JPs last Monday.

Sam Arif, defending, said her client wanted to be sent to prison: “I think he feels quite hopeless at the moment with his own personal circumstances.”

Magistrates activated his suspended sentence in full, adding four weeks imprisonment for the theft, common assault and threatening behaviour charges. He will serve 16 weeks in total. He must pay £185 victim surcharge.

Hatty Stafford-Charles, chairman of the bench, said: “The shops of Swindon and the security guards of Swindon need to be protected from this sort of behaviour.”