A prolific thief who is said to have turned his life around has appeared in court for an offence that took place nearly two years ago.

Stuart Webb, 37, of Unity House, Wood Lane, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to burglary other than dwelling at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on December 3.

The court heard from Mr Ballinger, prosecuting, that in the early hours of December 26, 2022, Webb used a brick to smash the glass of a One Stop Shop in Chippenham to gain entry into the premises.

After entering through the broken glass in the door, he filled up a laundry style bag with spirits, before fleeing the scene and heading into an alleyway and a church yard.

Read More: 'Brilliant' festive celebrations light-up Wiltshire town centre

A dog handler unit arrived shortly after and tracked a scent into Monkton Park, where they discovered a dumped bag of alcohol, containing less than £500 worth of items, and discarded clothing, which they seized.

CCTV showed Webb wearing a distinctive blue hooded top with yellow writing and DNA left behind at the scene linked him to the crime.

When interviewed by officers, he had a prepared statement denying any involvement in the incident and said he had been out of trouble for the last six years and did not want to do anything to jeopardise the positive life he had been leading.

Mr Ballinger said that Webb has 52 theft convictions in total and a number of those had been prior to the offence in 2022, discrediting his police statement about turning his life around.

Most recently, he appeared before Swindon Crown Court and was given a custodial sentence for offences including non dwelling burglaries in July 2023 and a fraud offence in October 2023.

Read More: Key route into town centre finally reopens after months of roadworks

In mitigation, Mr Moses, defending, explained he has been representing Webb for the last 20 years and this is the healthiest he has ever seen him, even suggesting he would not recognise Webb in the street because of the progress he has made to give up drugs.

“He’s kept his nose clean, it’s the first time he’s looking healthy and he appears to be a young man with purpose”, said Mr Moses. “He’s doing very well.”

He added that it was “unfortunate” it had taken so long for Webb to be sentenced, although no explanation was given as to why the case was being heard nearly two years later, and asked the bench to sentence him in a way that would not “destabilise his life.”

Webb was imposed a 12-month community order and ordered to pay a surcharge of £114.