Arresting officer slams "disgusting crime"
A Wimbledon man has been convicted after stealing a full Poppy Appeal box just days before the main Remembrance services.
Unemployed Barry Green, aged 21, from Montague Road, grabbed the Royal British Legion box from the Spar Shop in Grand Drive, Morden on Friday November 12.
Wimbledon Magistrates were told the box contained up to £300 and after Green grabbed the box he left the store and an investigation was launched.
Following enquiries by the Lower Morden Safer Neighbourhoods Team, he was identified and arrested at home by ex-Royal Marine, PC Keith Stewart.
Once in custody at Wimbledon Police Station, he was interviewed and fully admitted the offence, but claimed he was very drunk. The poppy collection box and contents were not recovered - as said he could not remember what he had done with them
He was charged and when he appeared at court in Wimbledon, he was convicted of theft. He received a Community Order for 12 months, directed to do unpaid work for 40 hours and pay compensation of £75, with costs of £85.
PC Stewart said: "Being a thief is bad enough, but stealing a full Poppy Appeal box, just days before Remembrance Sunday, is really low. I was pleased to give the thief a shock a few days later, when we knocked on his door early in the morning. We’ve worked hard to put him before the court, supporting both the staff at Spar and our local Royal British Legion by solving this disgusting crime."
December 14, 2010