Mr White recently shoplifted a lollypop from a local shop. He didn’t steal because he wanted to eat the sweet, and he easily had enough money to buy one if he wanted. And if he had bought the sweet, he’d have chosen lemon, not black-current. He says he took it because “a friend said they were so bored waiting, they felt like nicking something”.

The remark wasn’t serious, these friends have never shoplifted before (together), but at that moment he found himself next to a display of chupa-chup lollies. The shopkeeper was busy, back turned; his friends momentarily moved away. Maybe he could… why not? He imagined taking the nearest lolly and putting it into his pocket. He became excited and light headed at the thought. There was nobody around and no one could see through the window. He watched the keeper as he reached to take the lolly.

He snatched it in his right hand, moving it a distance of about 30cm. His hand rested briefly on the counter-top. If spotted, he could have pretended to be making a purachase selection. This action went unnoticed, so he quickly carried through and whipped it out of sight and into his trouser pocket. The lolly was an odd shape, and snagged going into the opening just as the keeper turned to serve him. His heart pounded, he couldn’t believe what he’d just done.

Did the keeper see? Was he too polite to say anything about such a mindless and petty act? He’d been so stupid. Imagine what would have happened if he was caught, the disgrace. But he got over it, and within minutes was flashing his trophy to his friends.

He says he'd really like to eat the lollypop. He imagines it would taste nicer because of how it came into his possession. But instead, he prefers to just look at it from time to time preserved on the mantelpiece.