A thug who stabbed another in Toothill last year – a decade after he was jailed for smashing a man with a claw hammer – will be assessed by the probation service to see if he is dangerous.

Quietly-spoken Sheldon Thomas was before Swindon Crown Court on Friday via video link from Ranby prison, Nottinghamshire. The 39-year-old, formerly of Rosebery Street, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, but denied a charge of knife possession.

It follows a stabbing in Oakham Close, Toothill, on May 10 last year. The victim was stabbed three times, police said at the time.

Rob Ross, for Thomas, said the victim had been found with a large amount of cannabis. DNA analysis of the knife used to stab him suggested it had belonged to the victim.

Judge Jason Taylor QC adjourned for a report from the probation service, telling an officer in court that it should consider if Thomas should be ruled dangerous and given an extended sentence.

The defendant was remanded in custody for the sentencing hearing on August 19. Prosecutor Colin Meeke said he would ask for the knife charge to lie on file.

Thomas has a long history before the Swindon courts.

In 2008 he was given a 10 year sentence for robbery and wounding with intent. He’d turned the claw end of a hammer on an innocent dad-of-five after watching his victim make a withdrawal from a cash point. The judge on that occasion told Thomas he had left his victim for dead.

He is currently serving a three year prison sentence, imposed at the start of the year, for selling drugs to undercover police officers in 2019.

In February, he was handed another three months after he pleaded guilty to affray. He hit his victim, who was in a van, to the side of the head, walked round to the other side of the vehicle and stole a handbag belonging to the man’s girlfriend. The incident concerned a supposed debt.

At that sentencing hearing, Thomas’ then lawyer Tony Bignall said his client was a talented singer-songwriter who hoped to make a living from his music once released.

It was possible he would be moved to another prison where the music recording facilities were better. He said: “He’ll be able to hone his skills while he’s a serving prisoner and keep himself busy.”

Thomas was getting too old to be in-and-out of prison, Mr Bignall added. “He is hoping that once he’s eventually released that will be the end of it.”