Two "despicable" thieves who admitted stealing 17 Royal British Legion poppy appeal collection tins from Essex shops are awaiting sentencing next month.
Heroin addicts Anthony Archer, 53, of Ongar Road, Writtle, and Roma Taylor, 51, of Cedar Avenue, Tiptree, pleaded guilty to all charges at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday (January 6).
The Royal British Legion estimates up to £1,000 was stolen in donations from shops in Essex including in Chelmsford, Maldon and Heybridge.
For a full list of the shops they targeted, see below.
Chelmsford RBL branch chairman and army veteran Harry Hudson said a tin was stolen on his collecting patch at the Spar shop, in Bishop Hall Lane.
"It's absolutely disgusting what they did, considering what our forces are doing overseas," said the 78-year-old.
"The money we raise is specifically for them and those people and everyone know this. Even small children know where that money is going and for them to steal it is absolutely despicable.
"I haven't got the words to describe what I would say if I met them face to face. I really don't know what I'd say – it's not repeatable."
Judge Christopher Ball QC said the two will probably be jailed at the hearing on Tuesday.
Mr Hudson, who served in Germany and Kuwait and drove a tank with the 12th Royal Carabiniers during the Cold War era, said: "We at the Chelmsford branch run a group on the first Friday of every month.
"I would hand them over to those veterans as punishment and let them deal with them. That's what I would do, and These veterans are not all old, there are youngsters too."
The pair stole tins during a prolific period between October 28, 2014, and November 8, 2014, in the run up to Remembrance Day.
They were arrested on Saturday, November 8, at Stock post office after being spotted by a PCSO.
Mr Hudson added: "The police have been absolutely brilliant in the way they've dealt with it."
The pair were remanded in custody to reappear for sentencing during the week of Monday, February 2.
1. 28/10/2014 - ASDA, Travel Care, 25 Church Street, Tiptree, CO5 0LA
2. 29/10/2014 - Tates Spar, 1 Bishop Hall Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1SH
3. 30/10/2014 - Tesco Express, 8 Purbeck Court, Chelmsford, CM2 8YX
4. 31/10/2014-01/01/2014 - Post Office, London Road, Marks Tey, CO6 1DT
5. 01/11/2014 - Millins Butchers, 83 Church Road, Tiptree, C05 0HB.
6. 02/11/2014 - Morrisons S/market, Dickens Place, Chelmsford, CM1 4UX
7. 02/11/2014 - Premier Stores, 140 Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2QL.
8. Co-Op, High Street, Ingatestone 03/11/2014 17:50hrs
9. 04/11/2014 - Natwest Bank, 36 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PW
10. 04/11/2014 - Sainsburys, 1 Western Approach, Stanway, CO3 8AA
11. 05/11/2014 - Martins, 7 Havengore, Chelmsford, CM1 6JP
12. 05/11/2014 - Co-Op, 15 Havengore, Chelmsford, CM1 6JP
13. 06/11/2014 - McColls, 358A Mersea Road, Colchester, CO2 8RB
14. 06/11/2014 - Budgens, Drury Rd, Colchester
15. 06/11/2014 Tates Spar, West Mersea
16. 07/11/2014 - Co-Op, 93-95 Wood Road, Heybridge, CM9 4AS
17. 08/11/2014 - Village stores, 1 Church Road, Kelvedon Hatch, CM14 5TS
