Psychologist Anselm Boyes, who turned to crime after getting involved in drugs, has been given a chance to rebuild his life.

Boyes, 37, went on a string of offences including stealing a purse from a woman shopper in Devizes and a prescription pad from a doctors' surgery.

But after hearing how Boyes, who had no previous convictions apart from a caution for having drugs, had fallen from respectability to petty crime, a judge at Swindon Crown Court decided not to send him to prison.

Ramon Pakrooh, prosecuting, told the court on Monday that all of the offences took place on June 8 this year.

Mr Pakrooh said that a prescription pad from the Old School surgery on Church Street, Great Bedwyn, and a purse stolen from Ingrid Nash in Marlborough were later found on Boyes and he told police that he had found them in a shop car park.

He said the final offence took place in Devizes as victim Marion Singer was talking on her mobile phone.

Boyes brushed past and snatched her purse from her handbag and she, seeing it in his hand, raised the alarm. He was detained by members of the public until police arrived.

When he was questioned he admitted taking the purse and the prescription pad and finding the other items.

Boyes, of Bennells, Oxenwood, near Burbage, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft.

After reading a pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service Recorder Ian Glen QC sentenced him to a two-year probation order.