Teens Admit To Stealing £30,000 Worth Of Chewing Gum At Service Station

Two teenagers have fessed up to stealing a whopping amount of chewing gum.

But 18-year-old Keon Sanderson and 19-year-old Ellis Benecke clearly prioritise having minty fresh breath above anything else.

On 4 May, a Wrigley's lorry driver pulled into a service area for a nap.

However, as he floated into peaceful slumber, Sanderson and Benecke decided to target the vehicle, cutting a hole in the side of the lorry and transferring its contents into their own van.

While it was previously estimated by Gloucestershire Police that the pair stole around £120,000 ($145,000) worth of confectionary, it has since been updated that the pair took a whopping £30,000 ($36,000) worth of chewing gum.

Police were called just after 3.00am by a passerby who spotted the thieves.

They quickly pursued the young men who refused to stop their vehicle.

At the time, Gloucestershire Police said: "The incident began shortly after 3am on 4th May when police received a report of a man at Gloucester Services removing items from an HGV.

"The vehicle began to travel north on the M5 before being located by officers as it approached junction 11, where it failed to stop for police.

"Further specialist officers joined the pursuit and followed the suspect vehicle as it left the motorway at junction 11.

"The lorry then drove the wrong way around the roundabout and joined the A40 Golden Valley, driving on the wrong side of the carriageway."

The teenagers were apprehended by the police car.

However, they then proceeded to run away on foot.

A police dog named Tekla and its handler eventually sniffed the pair out.

Most of the stolen chewing gum is reported as having been recovered.

Sanderson and Benecke's lawyers were given until 24 June for any basis of plea to be supplied to the court by judge Recorder Richard Mawhinney.

However, on Monday (13 June) at Gloucester Crown Court both Sanderson and Benecke pleaded guilty to theft.

Both boys also admitted possession of cannabis.

Prosecutor Nicola Wood stated: "Both defendants are of relatively good character. Sanderson has no previous criminal convictions and Benecke has just one driving-related conviction."

The pair are set to be sentenced on 18 July. They have currently been released on bail.