A Leeds man who broke into an industrial unit and made off with 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs has been sent to prison.
32-year-old Joby Pool – who is from Tingley in Leeds, and has aptly been referred to as the “Easter bunny” by local police – managed to steal more than a whopping £31,000 worth of the beloved Cadbury chocolate eggs after breaking into an industrial unit in Telford in Shropshire earlier this year on 11 February.
The court heard this week how Pool used a metal grinder to break into the premises, and then drove off in a stolen lorry with a trailer full of the sweet treats.
Pool had previously admitted to theft, criminal damage to a lock at the trailer park, and driving without insurance.
At the hearing at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday (20 July), the court heard Pool had used a tractor unit that had been stolen in the Yorkshire area last October to tow the trailer full of Creme Eggs away from the Stafford Park-based industrial unit belonging to SW Group Logistics, before the stolen eggs were then driven on to the northbound M42.
Northern thief who stole 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs handed jail time / Credit: Pxfuel
When West Mercia Police eventually located Pool, he was said to have surrendered by walking towards officers “with his hands up” near junction 11.
After Pool’s subsequent arrest, the police force took to social media to assure the public they had “helped save Easter”, and confirmed that as well as the Creme Egg haul, officers also found “a number of other chocolate varieties” had been stolen.
Pool has now been jailed for 18 months – half of which is to be spent in prison, and the other half on licence, with the six months that he has already spent in police custody to be counted towards his nine months in jail.
Judge Anthony Lowe also added one month to be served concurrently for the criminal damage offence, and added six points to Pool’s licence for driving without insurance.
Judge Lowe said he was not convinced Pool was the only person involved in the planning of the theft and there was a “significant degree” of preparation, but Debra White, who was defending Pool, said he has shown “genuine remorse” for what he had done.
White also claimed Pool was sorry for the effect it had had on his family and the company involved.
Featured Image – Cadbury UK
Leeds
Turnstile to play their only UK headline show this year at Halifax Piece Hall
Turnstile will headline the Halifax Piece Hall this summer, their only UK headline show.
The Grammy-winning hardcore group have just announced a very special show at historic venue the Halifax Piece Hall.
As part of the venue's huge summer season, Turnstile will take to the stage on Wednesday 26 August marking a whopping 41 shows at the Piece Hall's calendar so far.
The group pulled huge crowds at Glastonbury festival last year and scooped up two Grammy Awards earlier this month, using their platform to thank fans who "swung in the dark" with them.
Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Trust, says: “2026 will see Turnstile playing at some of the world’s most iconic festivals and then here in Halifax at UK’s most iconic heritage venue.”
“We always aim to deliver for the full spectrum of music lovers in Calderdale and knowing how passionate our rock and metal community is, this gig will be off the scale – truly unmissable!”
Alongside Turnstile, Halifax Piece Hall will welcome the likes of Hollywood Vampires, Paul Weller, Bowling For Soup, Skunk Anansie, Garbage, Empire of the Sun, Sex Pistols, Mcfly, CMAT and Jimmy Eat World this summer. What a season it's going to be.
Baltimore’s hardcore heroes will head to West Yorkshire to play TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall on Wednesday August 26.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 27 February at 10am, and you can get your tickets here.
Find out more about what's going on at the Halifax Piece Hall this summer here.
This iconic Leeds pub is selling 25p pints for the weekend alongside a 70’s-inspired menu
Clementine Hall
Whitelock's Ale House in Leeds are turning back the clocks for four days only.
Ever fancied giving time travel a go? Well now's your chance, as a historic Leeds pub are looking back to time gone by for the weekend.
Whitelock's Ale House are collaborating with Double Diamond beer, an iconic British pale ale made popular in the 70's and now somewhat having a resurgence.
From this Thursday 26 February until Sunday 1 March 2026, pints of Double Diamond will be available for just 25p.
Yep, you can't even get a Freddo for 25p these days let alone a cold, refreshing pint.
Guests will be able to grab their first pint of Double Diamond for 25p along with a nostalgic specials menu from the Whitelock's kitchen.
And if you know anything about their food, it's always class so this specials menu will be absolutely no exception.
The specials menu includes a french onion quiche, a coronation chicken sandwich, gammon, pineapple, egg and chips and to top it all off, a raspberry Swiss roll with custard.
You can get three courses for just £30 and you can either pre-order or order individually when you're there.
This is set to be a real blast from the past, so rally your mates together and prepare for a trip down memory lane and for what could be the cheapest pint of your life.
You can find out more and book your table at Whitelock's Ale House here.
Emily Sergeant -
21st July 2023 
