A SHOPLIFTER who cost taxpayers £10,000 by insisting on trial by jury for pinching a 92p tin of spaghetti walked away from court with an absolute discharge yesterday - prompting outrage at the waste of public money.

Government law advisor Lord MacKenzie of Framwellgate, a former president of the Police Superintendents' Association, said last night that the case highlighted the need for reform to reduce the number of cases going for trial by jury.

"This is another example of ancient rules being out of step with common sense. There is no magic in 12 men good and true," he said.

Critics of the court system say many opt to be tried before a jury, believing they are more likely to be dealt with leniently.

Stephen Phillips denied stealing the tin of Heinz spaghetti bolognese and exercised his right to be tried at crown court - which usually deals with the most serious cases.

The 23-year-old, of Toward Road, Sunderland, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court last month facing one charge of theft and was found guilty after just 32 minutes deliberation by the jury.

Despite a string of previous offences for shoplifting - three of which happened after the spaghetti theft - Phillips escaped with an absolute discharge. Judge Tony Lancaster said the community rehabilitation order, which was imposed for one of the latest thefts, should be allowed to continue.

John Lowe, defending, had told the court Phillips took to stealing food after becoming estranged from his family.

Phillips was seen putting the 400g tin of spaghetti in his pocket by a store detective in the Co-op store at South Shields, Tyne and Wear