CHARITY box thief Simon Ambler has returned to a life of crime this time potentially harming heart patients.

Last year, the 28-year-old was jailed for six-months for a string of offences including stealing a Barnardo's collection box.

Now he faces prison again after admitting fresh offences, including a bungled attempt to steal two laptops from the Great Western Hospital.

Swindon Magistrates' Court heard how he was being treated at the hospital when he tried to steal the computers on March 8.

Prosecutor Andy Pritchard said security staff spotted him on the hospital's CCTV leaving an office in the cardiology department clutching the laptops.

Ambler, of Crawford Close, Freshbrook, was detained and the computers recovered.

He also pleaded guilty to entering a garden shed in Corral Close, Nine Elms, with intent to burgle.

Police linked him to the offence via a DNA sample taken from a can of drink left at the scene.

Ambler, who has a history of offences linked to heroin abuse, also admitted forcing his way into the Brunel Centre and trying to steal a cash drawer from a till at Marks and Spencer in the shopping centre.

Staff confronted him and he dropped the drawer and ran off.

He was on bail for these offences when he was caught on CCTV trying to steal a purse from a 55-year-old woman's handbag at Asda in West Swindon on Wednesday April 13.

Christopher Smyth, defending, admitted the attempt to steal the laptops was a particularly 'mean' offence.

"His explanation was that as always he was short of money, and he had no means of getting home," he said.

Because of his history of offending, he found it hard to resist the temptation to steal, he added.

Ambler is also in breach of a community rehabilitation order issued last February.

Charges of aggravated vehicle taking and stealing another charity box were withdrawn.

District Judge Simon Cooper said: "The attempted burglary at the hospital was mean and potentially dangerous, especially as it was the cardiology department where patients are dependant on equipment."

The offences, he said, were too serious to be dealt with by magistrates, and Ambler was committed to crown court for sentencing.

He was remanded in custody.