A black-eyed thief had no memory of taking a kitchen knife to a pub wake, Swindon Crown Court heard.

Richard Godden, 36, was spotted handing the blade to a blonde companion outside the Deer’s Leap, Penhill, in early 2019.

Prosecutor Alec Small said police had initially been called to reports of a disturbance at the pub on February 1. Godden’s partner had been attending a wake there. When officers got to the pub he was outside, bleeding from a cut over his eye.

He left the scene with his mother-in-law but was back half-an-hour later. Police returned and saw him turn to a blonde woman stood with him outside the pub and say “hold this”. Godden had handed over a 12-inch bread knife.

When the officer tried to arrest him he became violent, prompting the lone policeman to press the emergency alarm on his radio. Interviewed the day after he said he had no memory of the incident.

At the time of the arrest he was on bail for a theft committed almost a year earlier on April 14, 2018.

Mr Small said Godden’s victim that night had been a partygoer returning home along Regent Street after an evening drinking with friends at the pub.

The man was approached by a group and knocked to the floor. As he lay on the pavement Godden, who had not been part of the initial attack, picked up the victim’s phone.

He later reported being robbed outside his home. There was no suggestion Godden had been involved in the robbery, but when police investigating the incident approached him and a group in the town centre later that morning the bearded thief fled and was eventually brought to heel after being Tasered.

During the chase he discarded the stolen mobile phone and a jacket. In his jacket pocket officers found a knuckleduster.

Godden, of Corsham Road, Penhill, pleaded guilty to theft from the person, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a blade.

Speaking directly to the court via video link from HMP Bullingdon, the defendant said: “All I know was someone was laid on the floor. I didn’t initially see the attack.

“I saw someone laid there. I went to help them up. The phone had music playing. I went to pick it up. Then I saw people I knew from around the town centre. I took advantage and I admit that. I’m sorry.”

Matthew Harbinson, defending, said of his client: “He has struggled with substance misuse and personal problems for some considerable period of time.”

His client pleaded guilty to the theft at a plea hearing, while he admitted the knife the knife matter on the day of trial last year. He pleaded guilty failing to turn up to court for sentence in July, telling the court he “totally forgot about it”.

Jailing him to a total of two years and one month, Judge Peter Crabtree said of the theft: “It may have been spontaneous. It may have been you took advantage of the situation. But you deliberately took advantage when you must have known your victim was intoxicated, lying on his back on the pavement and barely in a position to protect his own property.”