Man finds himself pushing trolley around city centre after taking random pill

A man went on a bizarre crime spree after arguing with his partner and taking an unknown tablet, a court has heard. David Patch has more than 50 offences on his record committed around the UK and in Spain.

The 62-year-old’s advocate told Swansea Crown Court his client “found himself pushing a trolley around Swansea city centre causing trouble” but has very little recollection of the evening in question.

Matt Murphy, prosecuting, said all the offences happened on the night of March 14 this year into the early hours of the following morning in Swansea city centre. In the space of a couple of hours Patch picked up a block and threw it through the window of a car parked near the Premier Inn hotel, rammed a shopping trolley into the glass doors of Swansea Market causing £2,500 worth of damage, and then burgled the Wagamama restaurant on Little Wind Street. The burglary saw him entering the restaurant through a fire exit and stealing a bag belonging to one of the employees.

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The court heard Patch was arrested in the city centre and taken to Swansea Central police station where he was “aggressive” towards officers. As a result of his behaviour he was restrained and then began kicking out at officers and trying to bite and spit at them while issuing a series of threats.

David Patch, of Timbre Place, Sandfields, Port Talbot had previously pleaded guilty to burglary, two counts of criminal damage, and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. The court heard he has 27 previous convictions for 56 offences around the UK including thefts, burglary and assaults on police officers in London during which he had used racially offensive language towards one of the constables.

He also has offences on his record committed in Spain. At the time of Swansea spree Patch was on bail in relation to driving offences in Berkshire for which he was subsequently given a suspended sentence. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here

Anthony O’Connell, for Patch, said on the night in question the defendant had argued with his long-term partner, “taken a pill of some sort” and cannot explain how he came to be in Swansea or why he committed the offences. He said his client had found himself “pushing a trolley around Swansea city centre causing trouble” but has very little recollection of the evening in question. He added Patch was seeking work “on the bins” and he said such work would help to focus his mind.

With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas, Patch was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and abide by a 90-day electronically monitored alcohol abstinence requirement.

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