A Northerner 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 near 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.
Northern thief who stole 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs handed jail time / Credit: Pxfuel
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.
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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.
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Police also found “a number of other chocolate varieties” had been stolen / Credit: Brett Jordan (via Flickr)
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.
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White also claimed Pool was sorry for the effect it had had on his family and the company involved.
Featured Image – Cadbury UK
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Co-op Live recap – cancelled shows, rescheduled dates, and more from chaotic opening night
Daisy Jackson
The opening night at Co-op Livewas marred by ‘a venue-related technical issue’ (something fell from the ceiling), triggering further delays to the huge new Manchester arena and even more rescheduled shows.
The ground-breaking new arena, which will be the largest indoor venue in the UK when it actually opens, has once again had to postpone its official launch.
In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday 1 May, fans who were already queueing outside Co-op Live were told the A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie concert had been cancelled.
Then followed further postponed gigs, with the venue also pulling the plug on Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS tour which was meant to visit Manchester on Friday and Saturday.
The Co-op Live has already rescheduled Peter Kay twice, as well as The Black Keys – and now more future gigs are being pushed back.
And now the question on everyone’s lips is whether Take That, Keane, or other huge shows will go ahead as planned.
It all happened pretty quickly last night, so here’s an essential recap of all the drama.
Which Co-op Live shows have been postponed or cancelled so far?
Peter Kay poked fun at Co-op Live in his event poster. Credit: Peter KayThe Black Keys. Credit: Larry Niehues
So far, the 23,500-capacity venue has had to reschedule or indefinitely postpone eight different events.
These have included Peter Kay, who was lined up to perform two gigs, which have now been moved twice.
The only event that has gone ahead so far has been a test event with Rick Astley, and even that saw thousands of tickets cancelled at the last minute to safely reduce capacity inside (we were one of the lucky few to go, and it does look amazing inside).
Then there was obviously the last-minute drama when A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was cancelled while fans were already outside Co-op Live, and then pop star Olivia Rodrigo having TWO gigs rescheduled.
Here’s the full list:
Peter Kay – original dates 23 and 24 April. Rescheduled dates 29 and 30 April. NEW DATES 23 and 24 May.
The Black Keys – original date 27 April. New date 15 May 2024.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – original date 1 May. New date to be confirmed.
Olivia Rodrigo – original dates 3 and 4 May. New dates to be confirmed.
What’s on next at the Co-op Live arena?
Take That is still scheduled to go ahead at Co-op Live after some other shows were cancelled.
Despite these high-profile cancellations, the Co-op Live still has plenty of incredible shows lined up in the coming weeks.
Notably, Take That have essentially planned a residency that will see them take over the huge venue for SEVEN nights.
At the time of writing, the following shows will still be going ahead this month. Fingers crossed everyone…
Keane – 5 May
Take That – 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 May, then 11 and 12 June.
Elbow – 14 May
The Black Keys – 15 May (rescheduled from 27 April)
Eric Clapton – 18 May
Barry Manilow – 19 May
Peter Kay – 23 and 24 May (rescheduled from 23 and 24 April)
Nicki Minaj – 25 and 30 May
Eagles – 31 May, then 1, 4, 7 and 8 June
Olivia Rodrigo statement and updates
Olivia Rodrigo has had her Co-op Live gigs rescheduled. Credit: Nick Walker
Olivia Rodrigo is arguably the most high-profile music event to be postponed at Co-op Live so far, with the pop sensation due to perform two sold-out shows.
It’s all part of her GUTS world tour and was meant to visit Manchester on 3 and 4 May.
Although her two shows this week have definitely been postponed, Co-op Live have yet to announce new dates.
In a statement, she sad: “I’ve been having such a great time in Europe so far and I’m sooooo disappointed that we’re unable to perform in Manchester due to on-going venue-related technical issues.
“We’re doing our best to reschedule the show. you can hold onto your tickets for further info or request a refund at your point of purchase. More info will be sent directly to ticket holders.
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“I’m so bummed and I really hope to see you all soon.”
Why has the Co-op Live opening been postponed again?
Co-op Live’s initial delay was caused by ‘power supply issues’ and they postponed several shows to test emergency services communications.
It’s believed that the issue with the HVAC system was an isolated incident ’caused by a factory defect’.
Co-op Live said: “We were not able to verify that all similar nozzles were free of such defects.
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“In conjunction with wider stakeholders, Oak View Group has made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue, and to postpone the performance.”
What Co-op Live have said about the delays
As A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s gig was cancelled, Co-op Live said: “Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight’s A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead. We kindly ask fans to leave the area. Tickets holders will receive further information in due course. We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
On Olivia Rodrigo, a statement released said: “Due to an on-going venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed. Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase. We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
And as for the future of the venue’s opening schedule, they said: “We understand the need to reassure fans over future shows. We are working with artist management and promoters to limit the impact on the opening season schedule.
“Where necessary, we will identify alternate dates, and will continually reassess to provide fans with sufficient notice regarding imminent shows.
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“Should shows be cancelled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of purchase and offered a full refund where preferred.”
Co-op Live should announced details of rescheduled dates in due course.
Manchester Museum has been shortlisted for the 2024 Art Fund Museum of the Year
Danny Jones
Another bit of very well-deserved recognition for our city as the Manchester Museum has been shortlisted for the 2024 Art Fund Museum of the Year.
Organised by the independent and membership-based British charity, which raises funds through the collection of important works and artefacts, it’s world the single largest museum prize in the world.
Shining as one of the crown jewels in Manchester’s cultural scene, the museum has been named among five other impressive finalists for this year’s award, which is evaluating inspiring projects from autumn 2022 through to winter 2023.
This wonderful news comes at a good time for Manchester Museum, which recently welcomed its one-millionth visitor since reopening to the public in February last year, following a £15 million values-led redevelopment. It really is back with a bang.
With Art Fund keeping audiences and communities at their heart, the highly revered accolade has a particular focus on community engagement, sustainable ways of working, and demonstration of ambition by reinventing what it means to be ‘the best’ museum for the audiences of today and tomorrow.
For context, the Manchester Museum (which sits as part of the University of Manchester) was the most visited indoor museum in the North of England throughout 2023, despite being shut for an entire month, welcoming a total of 790,332 people through their doors.
Speaking on this year’s selection, director Jenny Waldman, who heads up the 2024 judging panel, has applauded each of this year’s finalists for delivering “something for everyone” and keeping “community at the very heart of their programming.”
“Their commitment to innovative partnerships whilst operating within an extremely challenging funding environment is incredible”, she added. “I’m so pleased to see the way they support and centre young people through their work.
“Across a wide range of size and scale, these organisations are all real leaders in their field. I urge everyone to go and visit these extremely special spaces.” So do we.
We’d recommend going along to Stand the T-Rex aloneYou’ve got to see the giant Japanese spider crab(Credit: Manchester Museum/Matthew via Flickr)
As for the museum themselves, DirectorEsme Ward said of the announcement: “Manchester Museum’s redevelopment was the result of 10 years’ collective endeavour, so being shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year is a moment of joy for everyone to share in, from staff and partners to our communities and Manchester itself.
“It is an affirmation of museums’ power to bring people together in building a more inclusive, hopeful future.”
Built on self-proclaimed values of “inclusion, imagination and care”, the museum’s recent reopening has positioned it at the forefront of the sector here in the UK, with new galleries, partnerships, visitor facilities, sector-leading programming and digital innovations.
These updates, along with their existing and award-winning South Asia Gallery – the largest and first permanent gallery in the UK to celebrate the experiences and contribution of the South Asian diaspora co-curated by members from the community itself – are what have helped put it in the running for this prestigious prize.
Visitor numbers for the first year following reopening were up 157% on 2019/20, with 57% of those being new attendees and more than one in seven’s first trip to a museum ever.
The other four shortlisted museums are the Craven Museum in Skipton, North Yorkshire; Dundee Contemporary Arts, the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Young V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum, also in the capital.
The winning museum will be announced at a ceremony at the National Gallery in London on 10 July and will receive £120,000 to put towards internal projects and cultural work. Better still, £15,000 will be given to each of the four other finalists, so everyone’s a winner in a way.
Congratulations again to everyone at Manchester Museum and well done for all your incredible hard work – we can’t wait to be right about you again in a couple of months when we’re confident you’ll be rightly named as the winner of the 2024 Art Fund Museum of the Year.
Emily Sergeant -
21st July 2023 
