Teens admit £30K Gloucestershire chewing gum theft

Keon Sanderson, (l) and Ellis Benecke, (r), will be sentenced for their crimes on 19 July

Two teenagers have admitted stealing £30,000 worth of Wrigley's chewing gum from a lorry parked at Gloucester Services.

Ellis Benecke, 19, and Keon Sanderson, 18, stole the gum on 4 May when they broke into an HGV at the M5 services.

The pair, from West Yorkshire, also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis when they appeared at Cirencester Courthouse earlier.

They were released on bail and are due to be sentenced on 19 July.

Police initially estimated the value of the stolen chewing gum to be worth £120,000 but prosecutor Nicola Wood said it was about £30,000.

Officers attended the services when they received a report of two men taking items from an HGV and loading them into a lorry before driving off.

The pair made a hole in the side of the truck and unloaded the pallets into their own transport, all while the unsuspecting driver slept, a hearing at Gloucester Crown Court in May was told.

Police pursuit

In some countries chewing gum is used as currency, the court previously heard.

Benecke, of Aysgarth Road, Leeds, and Sanderson, of Fieldhead Parade, Birstall, Batley, were pursued by police along the motorway before abandoning their vehicle on the A40 Golden Valley bypass.

The pair were pursued on foot by police dog Tekla and were subsequently arrested.

Goods were stolen from a lorry parked at Gloucester Services on 4 May

Sanderson has also been charged with being suspected of driving a vehicle and failing to provide a breath test or specimen for analysis.

He is due to enter a plea for the offence when he is sentenced for the theft in July.

'Good character'

Prosecutor Nicola Wood said: "Both defendants are of relatively good character.

"Sanderson has no previous criminal convictions and Benecke has just one driving-related conviction."