Was this judge right to refuse to punish this man for stealing out of date food to be thrown away?

Of course he was right. It's a total waste of court time.

Tesco should be moving towards a zero waste system. They chuck out far too much. A sign that they are getting it wrong.

I was pretty disgusted with my local Sainsbury's last week. On Wednesday, the day before the election, they removed the trolley for the Salvation Army Food Bank. Like many other's, we've been in the habit of adding to it, often going through the cupboards to see what we might donate. Apparently their new policy is to not have food bank collections in store. Far too politically sensitive. You can still donate for the cats and dogs though. Sheesh...

I heard that quite a few stores pour bleach on food they are disposing. It's a pretty sick little world we have now.

He should not have been done for theft as what he did was NOT theft.

A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it;

In this case Tesco had already thrown the food in the bin to be disposed of. Therefore by the definition of the law they would not be deprived of it if it was taken.

In that case the judge was correct.

If Tesco's lawyers had any clue at all they would have known this and rather than try doing them for theft they would have made it a civil case for trespass.

Yes...this judge has realised that if you are going to reduce normal people to this level you are going to have to cut them some slack, or wealthy people like him will find their lives become less pleasant. I have been to countries with extreme poverty and there the wealthy constantly worry about their safety. Body guards for them and their kids. I was in one place where a body guard oversaw a couples children 24/7, and that was within a resort complex. Another time I saw a well heeled couple shopping in Caracas airport and they had their body guard with them, a guard who was conspicuously armed. In As for the Philippines, don't get me started. There you are patted down by a pump action shot gun toting guard before you are even allowed in the mall !!

I believe that its bad to steal food but the judge should know better and try to help them instead. Its really sad and disturbing that some people have cold hearts:(

Something strange about the claims made in court. I think this is bad reporting.

The wife said she had been sanctioned for 12 MONTHS for missing an interview. Doesn't ring true.

why do i get the feeling there's more to the story than meets the eye ---- like, for instance, why did the cps decide to push to prosecute them for that? if you're that hard up, the coppers would usually just slap your wrists & give you a caution or release you w/o charge. unless it wasn't their 1st offence doing something similar..

how did the missus get sanctioned for a year for missing 1 meeting?

doesn't the bloke get disability money? he must get the highest rate or near it if his broken back is severe enough to mean he can't graft anymore.

& food banks.. etc

sympathy if it's true, but it seems like a strange story.

Yes, as the items were going to be thrown out and was considered worthless by Tesco

Hi corn flake there are signs even in that article that make me wonder about these peoples life style that puts them into taking things. like his tattoos they cost money as does tobacco and drink the pair look dosed up with something as well. spending money on non essentials is what i start to wonder about.

You mean to say that a Judge actually used is common sense..this is very rare

Margaret Thatcher would have had them charged with Riot for that probably lol. Well done that the Beak threw it out of Court.

"Every Little Helps"? purrs Tesco............... Tesco charge manufacturers a lot of money to place their stuff on their shelves