A sweet-toothed shoplifter spent the night in custody for stealing a packet of jelly tots.

Bernard Jones, 36, slipped the sweets in his carrier bag at the Witham branch of Woolworth's on February 15. Chelmsford magistrates heard he had convictions for more than 80 offences - most for theft.

Jones, of Wise Road, Stratford, east London, admitted shoplifting. Peter Butterfield, mitigating, told magistrates: "It was a fairly pathetic offence to commit."

Magistrates waived a £20 fine because Jones spent a night in the cells.

Published Thursday, February 17, 2005

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