A drug addict turned to shoplifting after leaving his methadone script on the bus.

Michael McDonagh’s solicitor Luke Jameson said his client had been entrusted with several days’ worth of the prescription by the drug rehabilitation services – but had left it on the bus.

He had turned to shoplifting, stealing meat, deodorant and other items from the Co-op, Poundland and Lidl in July and August.

The 42-year-old also admitted stealing a bicycle left on Manchester Road on June 27. He was caught on CCTV simply picking up the bike and going off with it.

Mr Jameson told Swindon magistrates this week his client had been addicted to class A drugs for many years and had turned to addiction support services for help kicking his habit.

“He was on a script [a prescription] at the time of the offences. He was trusted with a number of days’ script at a time. He was travelling on a bus and he left his script on the bus, which had several days’ worth of methadone,” the solicitor said.

“He was therefore without days of methadone and felt compelled to commit the thefts to fund the habit.”

Turning to why his client had twice been found by police in the Great Western Hotel in Station Road, which was housing rough sleepers during the pandemic, in breach of a closure order on June 6 and 13, Mr Jameson said McDonagh’s then girlfriend had been living at the hotel. and he had been concerned about the woman hurting herself.

McDonagh was remorseful and a polite and pleasant person to deal with, the lawyer said.

Mr Jameson added: “When he is on a script and he’s got accommodation and support things go well for him and there seems to be no offending. It’s only when there’s something wrong with his script in some shape or form that the issues arise.”

McDonagh, of Harding Street, Swindon, admitted remaining at a premises in breach of a closure order, shoplifting and theft of a pedal cycle.

Magistrates sentenced him to an 18 month community order with a six month drug rehabilitation programme, six week curfew and 10 rehabilitation activity days. He must pay £55 compensation to Poundland.