TWO men who went on a spate of take-away burglaries have been warned they are facing jail terms.

Lee Sparks and Carl Brown took cash from the tills and even a charity box from the counter as they raided chip shops and Chinese eateries across town.

A judge at Swindon Crown Court said he was surprised that Sparks, 35, who went on steal while on bail, was not in custody with his 36-year-old co-defendant.

And he threatened to remand Sparks, who has more than 100 previous convictions many of which are for stealing, in custody for not taking the matter seriously.

Sparks, of Mason Road, Penhill, and Brown, of George Gay Gardens, Park South, admitted breaking in to five take-aways on Tuesday February 16 this year.

They took cash from the tills at: Sure Fry, on Ferndale Road, Roughmoor Village Fish and Chips, Peatmoor, Blue Sky Take Away, in Nythe, and Lees Chinese on Sherwood Road, Peatmoor.

In the raid on The Golden Star on Blair Parade, Moredon Road, they only got away with the charity box containing cash.

The men, who each have long histories of crime, denied raiding Bobby's Take Away on Cheney Manor Road, taking cash, a lap top and mobile phone, on the same day.

Because of their pleas to the other matters prosecutors said it was not worth having a trial on that allegation.

Brown also admitted a second spree of thefts during a one week period three months later.

On Sunday, May 22, he stole alcohol and groceries worth £70 from Simply Local, then later in the day returned to pinch washing detergent worth £36.

The following day he burgled Tesco in Park Road, Faringdon, with intent to steal and a week later stole £99.75p worth of cleaning products from One Stop Shop.

Lee Mott, for Sparks, and Alex Daymond, for Brown, both asked for the case to be adjourned to pre-sentence reports could be prepared on their client.

Mr Mott said his client had been released on conditional bail by magistrates and hoped to move to Essex at some point.

He said he must abide by an 11pm to 6am curfew and not contact witnesses or go to certain addresses.

Recorder Malcolm Gibney adjourned the case to Friday, August 12, and remanded Brown in custody until then.

Sparks was jailed for two years in June 2014 after stealing cheese and wine worth £125 from Tesco's while on a suspended sentence.