A pensioner has admitted stealing strawberries from a farm to sell for his own gain.

John Saunders, 72, admitted pinching fruit from Hugh Lowe Farm in Maidstone, before passing them on to John Jones to sell.

District Judge Paul Goldspring said: "I'm not going to call it sophisticated because they were walking in a field picking up strawberries. But it's not as trivial as one might think."

Saunders, of Cross Keys, Bearsted, was caught stealing £243 worth of the red seeded fruit from the farm in Mereworth on June 7.

He was told to leave but returned the next day.

Staff told him to leave once again, which he did.

On June 9 and 10, Jones, of Bull Lane, Eccles, was found selling the ill-gotten goods at car boot sales in Maidstone.

Saunders' defence solicitor told the court: "He thought that nobody would miss a few strawberries."

Hugh Lowe Farm is private land but does operate a pick your own service during the summer.

Judge Goldspring added: "These farms are mostly family businesses employing temporary staff to pick because its cheapest and they just turn a profit for doing so.

"I expect the effect on the business is far greater than we imagine.

"For me it what's they did with the strawberries. They took them and then spent money on a pitch at a boot fair to sell them, that's a profit organisation."

Saunders admitted one count of theft, one count of attempted to steal goods and another of receiving stolen goods.

Jones, 41, admitted to two counts of receiving stolen goods.

Both men were ordered to pay £121.50 in compensation and costs of £50. They must also must carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

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