GAZETTE & HERALD: A court heard how broke homeless man Geoffrey Smith duped a string of Bed and Breakfasts when he disappeared without paying.

Steve Beale, defending, said the unemployed 52-year-old's life started to fall apart when he was wracked by bouts of depression after his father's death 11 years ago.

He said Smith, who is now estranged from his wife, children and sickly mother, deceived three guesthouse owners out of desperation, because he had no cash, and no one left to turn to.

Smith, of The Pines Hotel, in Marshfield Road, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining services through deception at Chippenham Magistrates Court yesterday.

Prosecuting, Oliver Willmott, said that between February and March this year Smith vanished from two Chippenham guesthouses with debts of £365 and £175.

He attempted the same trick at a B&B in Bath, but was arrested after attempting to leave, owing £140.

The court heard that Smith admitted to police that he was doing wrong and revealed he tried to kill himself just weeks before.

Mr Willmott told the court Smith, who has been homeless for two years, is still paying back a Swindon Guesthouse he left with debts of £2,320.

Chief magistrate, Robert Alderman, said: "We have come very close to sending you to prison, very close indeed."

Smith was sentenced to an 18-month Community Rehabilitation Order and ordered to pay the guesthouse owners compensation for his unpaid bills.