Cheese thief targeted Cathedral City at Co-op
A man nicknamed "the cheese thief" by staff at the shop he targeted has been given a four-month suspended sentence.
Matthew Astbury, 26, of Stone Row, Malinslee, stole more than £150 of Cathedral City cheese from the Co-op in Dawley on separate dates in April and May.
He also stole ham and other chilled goods from the store, and also from the One-Stop shop in Dawley Road, Arleston.
Steve Millington, deputy manager at the Co-op in Dawley, said: "We had known about him for a few weeks. He came in on odd days and we were just waiting to catch him really.
"Everyone here knew about the cheese thief and it was a bit of a laugh between the staff. I don't know why he would come in and steal the cheese, he always used to get Cathedral City.
"I suppose it is quite easy for him to just sweep all of it off a shelf. I haven't heard of it happening before him."
Astbury admitted four counts of theft at Telford Magistrates Court yesterday.
Miss Sara Beddow, prosecuting, said Astbury went into the Co-op on April 30 and stole cheese to the value of £120 before returning to the store on May 3 and stealing eight packets of Cathedral City cheese to the value of £18.96.
Four days later he visited the One-Stop shop in Arleston, where he stole more cheese, as well as ham and other meat from the chiller, to the value of £108.28, Miss Beddow said.
He went back to the Co-op the following day but was caught stealing 13 packets of cheese.
Miss Beddow said: "He was spotted on this occasion on CCTV filling bags with cheese and a member of staff shouted 'It's the cheese thief'."
Miss Miranda Heal, for Astbury, said her client was stealing the goods to fund his drug addiction, which he is trying to beat. Astbury was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay compensation of £247.24 and a victim surcharge of £80.
Magistrate Geoff Bailey said: "You clearly have a problem with both drugs and thieving to supply your drugs. You have a four-month prison sentence hanging over your head.This is your opportunity to do something about it."
Astbury was also ordered to continue a nine-month drugs rehabilitation requirement he was given for a previous offence.
