TWO prolific criminals have been told to expect jail after admitting to stealing Royal British Legion poppy appeal collection tins from across Essex in the run up to Remembrance Day.
Anthony Archer, 53, of Ongar Road, Writtle, and Roma Taylor, 51, of Cedar Avenue, Tiptree, pleaded guilty to 17 theft charges at Chelmsford Crown Court today (Tuesday, January 6).
The charity estimates up to £1,000 was stolen, as well as from shops in Chelmsford.
The court heard how the pair acted as a team to steal the tins from shops across Colchester, Ingatestone and Tiptree during a fortnight in October and November.
Prosecutor Andrew Jackson said: "One acts as the distractor, or the blocker, while the other then removes the poppy collection tin and on a number of occasions replaces it with a dummy tin."
The pair's barrister, Mr O'Toole, told the court how they were heavily addicted to heroin.
He asked Judge Cristopher Ball QC to postpone their sentencing so probation officers can conduct a pre-sentence report.
"They're at risk of a significant sentence and they're both people with long criminal records," said Judge Ball, who said the two could be jailed.
"That being said I think it will be helpful to see what drives people to sink as low as this, to steal charity collection tins in the days leading up to November 11 and maybe the pre-sentence report will shed some light on the standard with which these two lead their lives."
The two were remanded in custody to reappear at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentence during the week of Monday, February 2.
