A MAN who claimed he stole booze so he could sell it to raise money for the deposit on a rented flat has been jailed.

Christopher White, 29, formerly of Queens Drive, Highworth, was also in breach of his prison licence, Swindon magistrates heard.

He admitted charges of threatening behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence, resisting arrest, failing to surrender to court, driving without a licence and having no insurance, along with two counts of stealing alcohol totalling £228.

He denied taking a car without consent and the allegation was withdrawn.

Kate Prince, prosecuting, said police received a 999 call from a woman at 8pm on August 6. She was on her way into the town centre and saw a woman sitting on steps with a man standing over her shouting into her face and telling her to get up.

The man grabbed the woman by the arms and attempted to haul her up forcefully and then spat in her face.

When police arrived the victim refused to make a complaint, but when an officer attempted to arrest White he pushed her in the chest and they both fell over.

The prosecutor said the first theft happened on August 5 when staff at Aldi in Swindon spotted a woman putting shopping in a bag in her trolley and then going to the front of the store where she appeared to read a newspaper.

A man then came into the store, picked up the bag and forced his way out of the one-way entrance door.

On August 27 staff at Penhill service station saw White walk in with another man and pick up bottles of spirits, put them in a bag and leave without paying. The value of the stolen good was £143.93.

White was arrested on August 12 after police saw a car kangarooing at traffic lights in Corporation Street. He admitted to them that it wasn’t his car and he did not have a full driving licence or insurance.

Mark Glendinning, defending, said the woman was White’s on off partner. “They have something of a fractious relationship going both ways, to be fair,” he told the bench.

She had put herself on the steps and refused to move. The defendant had attempted to cajole her, but he denied spitting. He also denied pushing the police officer away, but admitted resisting.

White, who gave his current address as Westwood Road, Penhill, had an alcohol problem and knew he could steal it to raise cash, said Mr Glendinning. “He was attempting to raise the deposit for a flat.”

He said White was the victim of a stabbing at the beginning of September and suffered a punctured lung. His injuries were categorised as critical and missed a court appearance because he was in hospital. He had missed probation appointments because he was unwell.

The probation service asked for 14 days in custody for White. His probation appointments were at his home but an appointment on Thursday had not happened because his mother had asked him to leave because he had become abusive.

The bench granted the probation service’s request and jailed White for two weeks for all offences, to run concurrently. He was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay a total of £228 compensation.