Drinking Chocolate

Darren, a heroin addict and serial thief, appeared in custody having been arrested as he was leaving a convenience store. Through his solicitor he denied any intention to steal, pointing out that he had dumped all of the goods concerned just by the door of the store. He had, we were told, put the goods down because his intention was to pay for them, but he realised that he had forgotten his wallet. Two facts rang a discordant note:- the prosecutor had a witness, backed up by CCTV, who said that the goods were dumped after Darren had been challenged by security staff, and we were sceptical about the motives of an unemployed man, dependent on benefit, whose shopping consisted of eleven jars of drinking chocolate, and nothing else.

No bail then.