Man who stole Poppy Appeal collection box from McDonald's jailed

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A man who stole a Poppy Appeal box from a McDonald's has been jailed. William McArd of no fixed address, admitted taking the belonging to the Royal British Legion charity collection box from a fast food restaurant in Chester.

McArd, 46, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on 14 November and was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison. This was on top of an 8 week suspended sentence from a prior offence that has now been triggered. READ MORE: Man fighting for his life after being hit by vehicle in Tesco car park READ MORE: The 'shocking' failures which left mum and three young kids stuck in 'uninhabitable home' full of damp and rot He was also ordered to pay compensation totalling £154.

He stole the Poppy Appeal box from McDonalds, Foregate Street on 5 November. Staff alerted police that he was back in the store on 12 November, and he was duly arrested and charged with the offence.

Speaking after sentencing DS Helen Newman, from Cheshire Police, said: “I am pleased that McArd has been immediately sent to prison as a result of this offence. "It is despicable to steal from any charity, but to steal a Poppy Appeal Box six days before Armistice Day shows a truly shocking disrespect for all those brave people who have served their country so selflessly.”