Chef says Press put him in modern-day stocks over shoplifting arrest

The Ready Steady Cook star said he felt he had been put in the “modern day stocks” by some elements of the Press, but that he had been overwhelmed by messages of support from thousands of well-wishers.

The former I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! contestant was cautioned by police after he was caught stealing from the Tesco store in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, while using a self-scanning.

The 60-year-old gave his first TV interview since the incident on Irish television while on a visit to Dublin.

“I’m in a bad place obviously,” he told state broadcaster RTE’s Saturday Night Show. “I’m very embarrassed, very ashamed, I put my hands up to it, I did it, which is inexplicable.”

He added: “It’s something that I’ve got to get to the bottom of and I’m having counselling because it’s completely against the run of play, if you want.

“I reckon I’m usually a pretty good guy, I do a lot for charity, a lot of helping other people and I don’t know what on earth made me do that, it’s just extraordinary.”

Worrall Thompson said thousands of people had logged on to his website to give their support. He contrasted that to his treatment by some sections of the media.

“What I’ve suffered this week is worse than doing a prison sentence,” he claimed. “I would rather have been fined or gone to prison because the Press have been extraordinary.

“It’s just been beyond any relationship to the crime.”

“I am prepared to take the flak, I deserve the flak, but I’m not sure I deserve what’s hit me this week.“

It’s been like being in the stocks, the modern day stocks with people throwing things.”