Heroin user David Ives admitted stealing a £16.99 Barbie doll from Woolworth's to help pay for drugs, a court was told.

The 27-year-old, of Culvery Court, was also found to have a stolen electric toothbrush on him when he was arrested in Swindon town centre last Wednesday.

Magistrates heard Ives was caught after he was spotted putting the doll in his pocket. He told police that he had bought the toothbrush from a man selling things out of a suitcase and knew it must have been stolen.

Martin Rae, defending, said Ives is a heroin user who came to Swindon from Bath to try and break the cycle of drug taking and offending. But when he arrived he took more heroin and was told to steal certain things by the pusher.

Mr Rae said "About two years ago he had a young son who suffered cot death and his girlfriend committed suicide two months later. His problems date from then."

Ives was granted bail as magistrates adjourned the case to January 12 for reports.