A man has avoided a jail sentence despite pleading guilty to stealing two boxes of toothbrushes in High Wycombe.

Anthony Dicks, 39, of no fixed abode, was arrested and charged by Thames Valley Police after he was caught taking two boxes of the items at the town’s B&M branch on Wednesday, May 22.

The total cost of the toothbrushes was £39.98.

Attending High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 23, he sat behind the glass box wearing a grey jumper, and once he admitted his guilt, he began to cry as the charges were being read.

The court heard that Dicks, who turns 40 next month, had previous shoplifting convictions and had only been released from prison on May 10 year, after serving roughly eight weeks behind bars.

It was learned that he was also charged with the same crime in February this year, along with November, October, and May 2023.

However, he was given a six-month conditional discharge despite committing the crime.

This was due to the Dicks attending several meetings following his release earlier this month, which the judge said were ‘steps in the right direction’.

The 39-year-old, who let out a huge sigh of relief after the verdict was read, must pay a victim surcharge fee of £111.