A Cumbrian man has been convicted of stealing sandwiches from the nation's favourite bakery.
Darren Humphreys, 59, of Centenary Close, Maryport, denied six offences of shop theft and another of assault by beating, but was convicted following a trial at West Cumbria Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 10th September 2025.
Theft is an offence under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968. Shop theft of items under the value of £200 is dealt with as a summary offence, with the maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine. We have previously written an article on the legalities surrounding theft.
Magistrates heard that Humphreys first targeted Greggs, Workington, on Thursday, 24th April 2025. He entered the shop and helped himself to two baguettes from the fridge, before making for the door. Shift manager Karen Bowness tried to retrieve the stolen goods, but was pushed back by Humphreys.
On Monday, 28th April the 59-year-old returned to the Geordie Embassy on Murray Road and helped himself to a further two baguettes from the fridge. Staff alerted the police who located Humphreys a short distance away. According to the officer, he was sat next to the discarded baguette wrappers and had telltale orange mayonnaise around his mouth.
Unbelievably, despite his run in with the law, the brazen criminal committed identical thefts on 3rd, 7th and 8th May 2025. He was clearly bored of baguettes by 1st June 2025, as he tried to swipe a packet of four sausage rolls on that occasion. However, this attempt was foiled by an eagle-eyed member of staff.
PC Katie Twentyman told the court that she knew Humphreys well, having had numerous dealings with him over the last 12 to 18 months. She recognised Humphreys' description when it was circulated following the theft on 3rd May 2025. PC Twentyman went to a bench he was known to frequent beside the town's bus station.
PC Twentyman told the court that upon her arrival Humphreys dropped a partly-eaten baguette onto the pavement. He then opened his mouth and the contents spilt out onto the ground. On that occasion Humphreys denied the theft, saying that someone else had given him the baguette.
Magistrates were quite satisfied - having viewed the CCTV footage and heard the evidence of five police officers and five Greggs employees - that Humphreys was guilty of all six offences.
Humphreys, who is clearly a sandwich short of a picnic, was granted conditional bail until his sentencing at the same court on Wednesday, 8th October 2025. In the meantime he is prohibited from entering any Greggs shop in Cumbria.
Speaking after his conviction he said: "I have nothing to say. I'm quite happy with the court proceedings. I'm fully aware that I have taken nothing from Greggs."
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