£215 court bill for 89p teacake theft from Ollerton

Police spotted Lee Darlington eating the Tunnock’s tea cake outside the store in Ollerton, at 2am, on December 2, 2016.

Officers found an unlocked fire door at the back of the store and he later admitted going in, but nothing else was taken.

“He said he sampled the tea cake and left without paying,” said Kate Beardmore. “He said he was going to go back and pay for it.”

David Verity, mitigating, said he had been out of trouble for four years.

On the day Darlington had been struggling with money because his benefits had been stopped. He had taken diazepam and decided to walk his dog.

“He is seeing a drug worker and is now on a methadone prescription,” added Mr Verity.

Darlington, 36, of Tuxford Road, admitted burglary at Mansfield Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 costs with a £30 victim surcharge, and 89p compensation to the store.