Crowdfunding fine for shoplifting

[Nearly Sane]

Is this the cue for an updated version of Les Mis?

http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides/news/1326642-stephen-daisley-on-wings-over-scotland-shoplifting-fundraiser/

[Shaker]

I saw that story this morning.

Words, for once, fail me 

[dadvokat]

And what about the loss suffered by shopkeepers? Are the dogooders going to raise money for them? Theft should never be condoned.

[jeremyp]

And what about the loss suffered by shopkeepers? Are the dogooders going to raise money for them? Theft should never be condoned.

In this case it was a four pack of mars bars but the fine was something over £300.  She stole the mars bars because she had nothing to eat for four days thanks to her social benefits sanctioned.

That's not to condone the theft, but I do have some sympathy.

[Shaker]

And what about the loss suffered by shopkeepers?

Trivial. In fact trivial is putting it too strongly.

Are the dogooders going to raise money for them?

No, since they're not having to steal a four-pack of Mars bars just for something to eat. This woman had to.

Theft should never be condoned.

I condone it sometimes. This is one of them.

[Anchorman]

It is indeed appalling that, in one of the richest countries on earth a lady has to steal to stave of hunger caused by an uncaring government's welfare system.
Wings is to be commended.

(Mind you, it's also a fantastic site!)


http://wingsoverscotland.com/

[Hope]

I was amused by what she chose to steal.  A Mars Bar is not something I'd choose to staunch hunger pangs - sweet things may provide you with energy but they do nothing to hunger pangs. 

That aside, as we don't know why her benefits had been sanctioned it's difficult to judge.  I wonder why she didn't go to a food-bank? Is/was she homeless?  If not, did she have anything at home that she could have pawned or got money for from something like Cash Converters.

[Nearly Sane]

I am bemused by your amusement

[Hope]

I am bemused by your amusement

Clearly you have no understanding of dietary principles.  Carbs, not glucose, are best for hunger.  Furthermore, there are (as some on here have bemoaned) lots of organisations around the UK working to provide such people with free food.

[Nearly Sane]

I phrased my post in order to point out that being 'amused' seems inappropriate. I was trying to suggest that bemused might be a better word.

[Nearly Sane]

Also I might think that if I needed to steal something in order to feed my kids I might try and steal the easiest thing to hand rather than stand there considering dietary advice.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Sane,

Correct, as a one time shop lifter ( many decades ago, thankyou Jesus ) you would always look for the easiest.

Maybe I could write a book, the science of shop lifting.

But I suppose there is a message in Hopes post, stop wearing the middle class rose tinted glasses, walk a mile in another mans shoes.

Gonnagle.

[Rhiannon]

http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Reverend-Stuart-Campbell-raises-11k-woman-fined/story-27613189-detail/story.html

It seems that now her fine will be paid off the excess will be going to food bank charities.

[jeremyp]

I was amused by what she chose to steal.  A Mars Bar is not something I'd choose to staunch hunger pangs - sweet things may provide you with energy but they do nothing to hunger pangs. 

She stole the mars bars because they were cheap.  She knew she was doing wrong but she was desperate.  Desperate people sometimes do stupid things.

[Rhiannon]

Actually Mars Bars are quite cloying compared to other confectionery and do stop you feeling hungry. I find them far too sweet but understand exactly why they would have seemed a good option - cheap, small and likely to stop hunger.

[Sassy]

And what about the loss suffered by shopkeepers? Are the dogooders going to raise money for them? Theft should never be condoned.

The point is the womans benefits should never have been removed by a sanction forcing her to steal or starve.
If the Government take away the money they are forcing people to steal. So perhaps the Government can take the 75p for the fine and pay the shopkeeper back.

[Sassy]

I was amused by what she chose to steal.  A Mars Bar is not something I'd choose to staunch hunger pangs - sweet things may provide you with energy but they do nothing to hunger pangs. 

That aside, as we don't know why her benefits had been sanctioned it's difficult to judge.  I wonder why she didn't go to a food-bank? Is/was she homeless?  If not, did she have anything at home that she could have pawned or got money for from something like Cash Converters.

We do know because the newspapers would not have printed this and she would not be getting help with the fine otherwise.

Nothing difficult. You need a reality check as you have a selective reasoning when it comes to the reality of the Government you voted in.
Food banks require a referral. She should not have to pawn anything and cash converters is not ideal when she then gets into further debts paying the money back with interest.

It is a little like the saying... ''If they have no bread let them eat cake'' If there is no flour for bread where do they get the flour for cake....

[Sassy]

I am bemused by your amusement

Clearly you have no understanding of dietary principles.  Carbs, not glucose, are best for hunger.  Furthermore, there are (as some on here have bemoaned) lots of organisations around the UK working to provide such people with free food.

Money to buy food even easier. Without money she could not get carbs or glucose.  That is why she stole.

[Sassy]

Also I might think that if I needed to steal something in order to feed my kids I might try and steal the easiest thing to hand rather than stand there considering dietary advice.

Whereas I would explain my situation and ask them to work a couple of hours for a meal cleaning or some other job.
We can ask and explain. As a shop keeper I would give them tick till they got paid. But as a human being we could all be prepared to help our neighbours. What we need is to stop looking down on people who claim benefits and realise the Government does not care about small children, old people or disabled. They want to take any support away, as much as they possibly can.

[Hope]

Money to buy food even easier. Without money she could not get carbs or glucose.  That is why she stole.

I'm not aware that foodbanks or soup kitchen providers charge their clientele, Sass.

[Rhiannon]

But food banks close. Shops are open longer hours.

[L.A.]

Is this the cue for an updated version of Les Mis?

http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides/news/1326642-stephen-daisley-on-wings-over-scotland-shoplifting-fundraiser/

Presumably the Nationalists are trying to put over the message that Scotland supports criminals Maybe we ought to oblige them and send them all up there.

[Anchorman]

Is this the cue for an updated version of Les Mis?

http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides/news/1326642-stephen-daisley-on-wings-over-scotland-shoplifting-fundraiser/

Presumably the Nationalists are trying to put over the message that Scotland supports criminals Maybe we ought to oblige them and send them all up there.

-
The only criminals are the inhuman government imposing these degrading benefit changes.
(That's the same bunch who are still trying to resist publishing the numbers of those who have taken their own lives as a result of the Eton mafia's policies)

[L.A.]

You take the story at face value Anchorman ? Yes it seems a harsh sentence but is that story the whole truth? I put money on there being a hell of a lot more to it.

It's true that some people lead chaotic lives and are unable to look after themselves, usually due to mental health/disability or addiction issues, but the defence never raised that. Food prices today are historically low, if you are short of money you might struggle to pay the rent but there is no reason to go hungry. And was this a first offence or was she a regular shoplifter?

The fact that the Nationalists are trying to use this story as a political weapon says it all - it's not about compassion - it's about politics!

[dadvokat]

Are those of you au fait with shop lifting also ok for this thief to burgle their houses because she is reported to be hungry? I smell a stench of hypocrisy in the air esp in the northern parts of this island. Also how do you know how many tea leaves have walked away with unpaid goods from the same shop? So if the defence for committing a crime, any crime in a court of law is hunger then shall we do away with the crime of shop lifting? There's a lot more to this story then has been reported. Trust the fecking nationalists to jump on the bandwagon...