Joby Pool, aged 32, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement in the theft of nearly 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs. The incident occurred on February 11 when Pool used a metal grinder to break into an industrial unit located in Telford, Shropshire. He then fled the scene in a stolen lorry cab, hauling a trailer loaded with chocolate products valued at over £31,000.

During the sentencing at Shrewsbury Crown Court, Judge Anthony Lowe ordered Pool to spend half of his sentence in prison, with the remaining half to be served on licence. The six months Pool spent in custody prior to the trial will be taken into account as time served.

Pool had previously admitted to charges of theft, criminal damage, and driving without insurance. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Lowe imposed an extra concurrent month for the criminal damage offence and added six points to Pool’s driving license for driving without insurance.

The court heard that Pool had utilized a stolen tractor unit from Yorkshire to tow the trailer of stolen Cadbury Creme Eggs from the industrial unit in Telford. Pool was later apprehended by police near junction 11 of the northbound M42 as he surrendered with his hands up.

While Pool claimed to have acted alone, Judge Lowe expressed scepticism, pointing out the level of preparation and inside knowledge required for the theft. He suggested that others may have been involved in the planning and execution of the crime.

During the trial, Pool expressed genuine remorse for his actions and acknowledged the negative impact it had on his family and the affected company. However, the court deemed the offence serious enough to warrant a custodial sentence.

West Mercia Police, who played a crucial role in apprehending Pool, shared details of the arrest on Twitter, highlighting their efforts in “saving Easter” for Cadbury Creme Egg enthusiasts. The stolen chocolate treats and other varieties were recovered, preventing a significant financial loss for the company.