A DRUG addict has been jailed after he snatched a pensioner's handbag, was found in possession of a knife and scrawled his nickname in blood across a cupboard at a dance school.

City magistrates heard Jamie Hill committed the first offence on July 7 when he wrote the word Shorty with his own blood on property at the Groundswell Dance Academy in Oxford Street, Swansea.

The 23-year-old was caught out after police took swabs from the scene and matched it to his DNA.

Prosecutor, Sharon Anderson said: "In interview he said he couldn't remember.

"He said he knew where the dance studio was."

Hill, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to causing the criminal damage.

Last month the Evening Post reported how the Groundswell Dance Academy had been forced to relocate to Eaton Road in Brynhyfryd after children as young as four witnessed heroin addicts injecting themselves outside its former base.

Mrs Anderson said at 5pm on August 25 Hill was caught with a nine-inch knife in Adelaide Street, Swansea.

Officers arrived at the scene to find him being detained by city Rangers. A member of the public had witnessed him throw the knife onto the grass.

"The city Ranger said he'd followed Mr Hill as he'd identified him from a description passed the previous day as a person being responsible for a handbag theft at a local hairdressers," said Mrs Anderson.

Magistrates heard a 72-year- old woman was waiting for her hair appointment on August 24 when Hill had leaned into the shop to speak to staff before stealing her bag. The bag contained a purse, bus pass, photographs, up to £80 cash and her angina spray.

In police interview Hill, who pleaded guilty to possessing the blade in a public place, theft and breach of a conditional discharge, said he'd found the blade while hiding from city rangers.

Probation officer Kerry Williams, said: "He's using approximately one bag of heroin a day, both injecting it and smoking it. He said he was sorry for the offences and he does present as somebody who is desperate."

Gareth Jones, defending, said Hill's problems started when he was made redundant. "It's clearly a very sad state of affairs," he said.

"Mr Hill is someone who six months ago was living in private accommodation, with no previous convictions and was in full time employment. Now he has a drug addiction, is subject to a number of convictions and has no roof over his head."

Hill was jailed for 12 weeks.

julia.bosnyak@swwmedia.co.uk