A man who stole nearly 200,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs has been convicted.

Using a stolen lorry with false plates, Joby Pool, 32, was able to make away with the monumental haul from an industrial unit in Telford on Saturday, Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Pool was charged on Tuesday with criminal damage and two counts of theft.

The heist which saw him take an estimated £31,000 worth of chocolate is said to have had “significant planning”.

Police who caught Pool heading northbound on the M42 motorway near Birmingham said the Leeds native used a metal grinder to get through the gates of the industrial unit.

Prosecutor Owen Beale said: “He gave up at junction 11 and walked towards the police with his hands up – he was arrested and the load was recovered.”

Pool who is due to be sentenced in Crown Court next month, is said to know a substantial sentence is likely.