Joby Paul was arrested in February after he smashed through a gate at an industrial park in Telford, England and then used a stolen truck to tow away a trailer loaded with 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs and other chocolate goods. Photo: 123RF
A British man labelled the "Easter bunny" by local police after he stole more than £31,000 ($NZ64,300) worth of Cadbury Creme Eggs from an industrial complex has been sentenced to 18 months jail.
Court documents show Joby Pool, 32, was sentenced at Shrewsbury crown court on Thursday.
Pool, who has already served six months while awaiting trial, will spend another six months in prison and then the remainder of the sentence on parole.
He was arrested in February after he used a grinder to break through a gate at an industrial park in Telford, central England, and then used a stolen truck to tow away a trailer loaded with 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs and other chocolate goods.
Shortly after, West Mercia Police tweeted, officers stopped a vehicle "presumably purporting to be the Easter bunny" on a highway and arrested a man on suspicion of theft.
Prosecutor Owen Beale said Pool gave up when he realised police were after him.
Beale said Pool "walked towards the police with his hands up".
He was arrested and the load was recovered.
In February he pleaded guilty to theft, criminal damage and driving without insurance.
- This story was first published by ABC.