Couple Charged For Stealing Expired Groceries To Feed Children
A husband and wife who were caught on CCTV stealing out-of-date food from Tesco bins to survive have avoided sentencing after a sympathetic judge said ‘how are they expected to live?’
Paul Barker, 39, and Kerry Barker, 29, of Sunderland, were spotted on CCTV sifting through out-of-date groceries at the back of a store on January 5 after their benefits were stopped and they could not afford to feed themselves or their children.
They were caught by police taking worthless discarded food from a supermarket bin in a bid to feed their hungry family and were charged with theft – and the matter made it to court.
Mr Barker says both he and his wife were hardworking taxpayers but he was forced to quit his job after breaking his back while working as a scaffolder.
His wife gave up her job at Durham County Council five years ago due to depression and as a result the pair no longer have a source of income.
They have been forced to steal food from bins after Mrs Barker’s benefits were stopped after she missed a meeting earlier in the year.
Because of this the couple’s children, a four-year-old boy and two-year-old daughter, have now been forced to live with their grandparents.
When police arrived at the Tesco store on January 5 Mr Barker told officers that the pair were hungry and they knew there would be food at the store.
Mr Barker admitted theft at Sunderland Magistrates Court.
Mrs Barker is yet to enter a plea and will appear before magistrates on May 30 for the same offence.
But District Judge Roger Elsey took pity on them and said the food they took was not worth anything.
He said he could not impose a penalty in such a case because they are clearly struggling – and gave Mr Barker an absolute discharge.
Source: DailyMail
Kudos judge Roger. How can they be prosecuted? They are just trying to survive. Eya.
Instead of Tesco to look for a way to help this people, they’re taking a worthless case to the court. The food they stole has been expired, so what??? That’s one thing i love America for, Tesco should offer the woman a job and have pity on their kids. British people are very stiff.
Haba it was food thrown away now why even arrest them at all
God bless dis judge for not charging them.
Instead of the authorities to even consider the harm they r causing themselves by eating expired foods rather they took them to court for stealing.
They should go and work nah…but well life in it self is not easy
people are suffering sha.
Message.. Awww hw touchy
God bless this judge
Kai
c wat poverty can do.expired…..God hlp dem
Good judgement
Gid bless that judge
Charged 4 taking expired goods?Was Tesco planning 2 resell those groceries?Na wa 4 them o.lts like they prefer those that will come with guns n take d main groceries,money n then injure their staff.
Sad, but they need to get jobs.
Thank God for the judge
Eyeah! I wonder why their benefits were stopped, even that of the kids
God bless dis judge for not charging them.
Instead of the authorities to even consider the harm they r causing themselves by eating expired foods rather they took them to court for stealing.
I FEEL SORRY. Thanks to this judge