NIGHT workers inside an Argos store were terrified when raiders smashed their way through the front of the store in the early hours of the morning.

Anthony Walsh and two other men used a brick to break the glass door before plundering £15,000 worth of stock from the jewellery counter.

But after hearing the 40-year-old had been out of trouble for eight years and wanted to address his drugs problem a judge gave him a last chance.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court a woman started a shift at the Greenbridge branch at 11pm on July 9. "At about ten to three in the morning she heard an almighty bang, followed by another one. It was thought it was some doors being slammed," he said.

Her colleague told her it was the sort of noises heard in the building at the dead of night, but they then got a call from security who were watching CCTV and saw someone smashing through the front of the store.The two workers armed themselves with items and retreated to a place of safety for fear of being attacked by the raiders.

Police called by the shopping centre staff raced to the scene and found the jewellery counter had been smashed with a brick.

The thieves has made off with £15,000 worth of jewellery and watches.

Walsh, who fitted a description given by security, was stopped by officers on Shrivenham Road as he rode away on a bicycle.They saw he had dropped something about 50 metres away. A quick search revealed a pillow case containing jewellery and eight watches.

When questioned he exercised his right to silence, but later admitted burglary.

The court heard Walsh, of Bath Road, had a history of crime dating back to the 1990s including burglary, theft, drugs supply and assault.

Probation officer Jackie Reynolds said he had problems with his methadone prescription and was under pressure to pay a drugs debt. He was riding a bike because he had ulcerated legs and would have had difficulties walking.

She said he had not worked for about ten years, when he was at Honda. Until last year he had been out of trouble since 2011 but had fallen back into drug use.

The father of three, whose partner has two children, receives employment support allowance and personal independence payments.

Richard Williams, defending, said "He would dearly like to address the underlying issues in his life: his class A addiction."

Judge Robert Pawson imposed a two year jail term suspended for 24 months with a drug rehabilitation requirement and 16 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He said " I won't leave Mr Walsh under and false impression. I will reserve any breach to myself. If he breaches it he is going to go straight to prison."