A MAN who twice stole tablet computers from the reception at Trowbridge Hospital has been spared an immediate jail term.

Michael Lee pinched the devices, which are used so patients can log their cars as being parked legally in the car park, to sell to fund his drug addiction.

While he was on bail for the thefts he went shoplifting and produced a Stanley knife as he struggled with Lidl staff trying to detain him.

After hearing the granddad wanted to turn over a new leaf after turning 40 a judge decided to impose a suspended sentence.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that he stole the tablet computer from Trowbridge Community Hospital on May 23.

She said he was shown on CCTV in the reception area taking the iPad and when he was arrested he admitted doing the same on an earlier occasion.

He was on bail when on November 21 he set the alarm off at Lidl in Trowbridge as he tried to leave without paying for packs of batteries.

Miss Marlow said as he was being led back into the supermarket by staff he started to struggle and produced the knife. She said they disarmed him and put him in a store room but by the time the police arrived he had escaped.

However he was identified from the store’s security camera and was also identified in footage from the Co-op in Seymour Road where he stole jars of coffee.

Homeless Lee pleaded guilty to three thefts, having a bladed article, and failing to surrender to custody with three more thefts taken into consideration.

The court heard he had a long history of crime and was fined for shoplifting in March last year and had been jailed for having knives in the past.

Passing sentence Recorder Richard Smith QC said: “You stole a laptop from Trowbridge Community Hospital.

“It is an appalling act in a community hospital.

“You were assisted there yourself once. You repay that by taking that property, £100 or thereabouts, of an iPad.”

He said that as the probation service could assist Lee he would give him the chance and imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for two years with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement