A DRUG-ADDLED burglar who told a shop assistant “I’m going to swing for you” begged magistrates to jail him.

The justices granted Alessandro Colucci his wish, with the offences so serious they sentenced him to a year in prison – the maximum tariff the magistrates’ court can mete out.

The 40-year-old admitted raiding Rendezvous Chinese takeaway, the hairdresser’s next door and Food Warehouse on October 27 and 28.

The Food Warehouse was targeted at around 7.45pm. Colucci and another smashed their way through the glass door and filled a basket with bottles of spirits.

In the early hours of the next morning the pair went first to Swindon Rendezvous on Regent Circus. One of the burglars – wearing a motorcycle helmet – kicked his way through the door. They searched behind the counter but left empty handed.They went to the hairdressing salon next door, where they again got in by kicking through the door.

A week later he was at Paper Kisses, Royal Wootton Bassett where he stole a Yankee Candle gift set worth almost £30. He was chased out of the store by a female shop assistant in her 60s.

She shouted down the street at him: “Excuse me, sir. Stop thief!” He turned around and replied: “I’m going to swing for you.” The brave woman told Colucci: “And I will do you for GBH.”

When she refused to back down, Colucci took a swing for her as he had promised. Prosecutors described it as a closed-fist punch, while the Colucci’s solicitor claimed it was a slap.

The woman fell to the pavement and was reaching for her glasses as Colucci ran from the scene.

Colucci, of Showfield, Royal Wootton Bassett, admitted three counts of burglary, shoplifting and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Jeremy Griffiths, defending, said his client was addicted to class A drugs and wanted magistrates to jail him in an effort to break his cycle of offending.

Colucci took three hits of heroin a day: “He fears if he is released he would go back to this offending.”

Magistrates granted the burglar his wish, jailing him for a year. He must pay £260 compensation to his victim.