A HEROIN addict who spat in the face of a security guard after he had been caught shoplifting has been jailed for two months.

But Peter Gaffney will not start to serve the new sentence until he has completed his current jail term, which ends on April 1.

The 33-year-old had only been out of prison for two and a half months when he returned to crime.

Prosecutor Chris Jervis told Swindon Crown Court that he went into the Virgin Megastore and after hiding some DVDs under his jacket he tried to leave the shop but set off the alarm.

When he was taken back he was found to have five box sets worth £140.

He tried to run away and a security officer tried to stop him and then spat in the security officer's face.

"He then threw a punch at the security officer."

Gaffney was then released on bail but was again caught shoplifting. Staff at WHSmith saw him removing tags from two DVDs.

Gaffney, of Croft Road, pleaded guilty to theft and assault.

The court was told he had a string of previous convictions and had been jailed for two years in February last year after he burgled a house.

Ruth Armstrong, defend-ing, said "He said that the spitting was a function of the response to the situation he found himself in."

Jamie Hill