Jaffa Cake thief says sorry to shop boss 50 years on

The 15-year-old wanted more and wasted no time in devouring the whole packet.

But what he didn't realise was that he had also taken a large bite out of his conscience, for the biscuits were stolen – a five-shilling theft he had committed on the spur of the moment at the shop where he worked on a holiday camp in East Yorkshire.

It was a crime that has troubled him throughout the intervening half a century, a guilty secret that disturbed his sleep and pervaded his waking hours.

For 50 years he lived it until the burden became too much – and he rushed out, bought a packet and after tracking down his former employer, Les Simpson, drove 50 miles to repay his debt and apologise.

It was the best 92p he ever spent, for he was quickly forgiven and the pair renewed their friendship.

Mr Bibby, a retired teacher and father of two from York, who is now 65, said: "I've always had a sweet tooth, I was hungry and thought I would have just one Jaffa Cake from a packet.

"But I ended up eating the whole lot and never told anybody about it. You forget so much over the years yet this just stuck in my mind. I have never done anything like it before or since.

"I still felt guilty and decided it was finally time to own up so I tracked Les down and phoned him up. I had been wanting to plan a reunion of former workers as well so we had a chat and arranged to meet, and I felt the time was right to make amends.

"I drove to see him and immediately said, 'Les, I have something to confess.'

"I pulled out the pack of Jaffa Cakes and told him the story, the first time I have ever admitted what I did to anybody. It felt like a weight off my shoulders. This time I did not touch the cakes.

"He was lost for words, absolutely amazed I had remembered this because he didn't have a clue about it. We ended up having a good laugh about it."

His relief was nothing compared to the surprise of Mr Simpson, 79, who lives in Beverley and who sold the Linzi Coffee Bar in Skipsea in 1972.

He had even forgotten who the fresh-faced schoolboy of 50 years ago was.

Mr Simpson said: "We had a long chat about old times and he agreed to come and see me. When he pulled out the Jaffa Cakes I was still none the wiser but then he said, 'I stole a packet from your shop when I was 15'.

"I couldn't believe it, I was absolutely shell-shocked. He must have felt guilty about it all these years, but I knew nothing about it."

He added: "It's 50 years ago. He didn't need to worry about it, I mean what's a packet of Jaffa cakes? I don't even like Jaffa Cakes, I don't like oranges.

"From the look on his face I think he thought I was going to tell him off after all these years. We ended up roaring with laughter about it.

"At that time I hired lots of schoolboys and schoolgirls to work in the shop during the holidays.

"It's very hard for me to remember exactly who John was because there were so many.

"But they were all good workers, enthusiastic, young and full of life and I'm sure John was one of those."

Mr Bibby, on the other hand, remembers his days on the camp like it was yesterday.

"I was working there as a part-time summer job while still at school," he said. "I did all sorts of things, including bingo-calling and helping out in the shop."

Mr Simpson also ran a business of the same name in Selby, North Yorkshire, and the pair are now planning a reunion in the town for all remaining ex-customers and staff next month, together with a party for Mr Simpson's upcoming 80th birthday.

Mr Simpson, who gave up his shops to become a professional artist, added: "It was lovely to hear from John after all this time, it gives me a real lift when I hear from people from the past."

Hard line on stolen treats

Other chocolate thieves have found their victims less forgiving.

Last month a man in the West Midlands was jailed by magistrates in Dudley for stealing 31.88 worth of chocolate. Nicholas Gibson, 37, was sent to prison for 26 weeks for stealing at a Sainsbury's store.

Earlier this year a toddler was caught on CCTV stealing a giant chocolate bunny from an Easter display at a restaurant in Ipswich.

The 2ft rabbit, named Warren, was intended as a 50 prize in a children's colouring competition. Security cameras showed a toddler dragging the bunny onto the street outside.

A light-fingered woman in Palm Beach, Florida, was given a trespass warning this month after she was caught stealing chocolate worth $28.

And four years ago, marathon runner Robyn Kaye Bohun was banned for life from two retailers in Australia for stealing chocolate. Bohun, whose $10 haul included chocolate, lollies and parmesan cheese, admitted one charge of theft and blamed the pressure of success, work and training for the crime.