It is a picturesque market town known for its natural beauty, scenic walks and historic rock formations.
But one drug addict was so desperate to escape Church Stretton in Shropshire that he dialled 999 and begged police to be sent to prison. Lee Andrew Price, 30, told officers he was fed up with living in the 'middle of nowhere' - and that the quaint town was an 'alien environment' to him.
And when he was told he could not be arrested without committing a crime, he went on a shoplifting spree at Waitrose in nearby Shrewbsury, a court heard yesterday. Price followed a security guard around the store in Pride Hill - before 'blatantly' bagging £128 worth of goods in a bid to be arrested.
He has now been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison after pleading guilty to one charge of shoplifting at Telford Magistrates' Court.
He is believed to have been sent to HMP Birmingham in Winson Green, situated close to the notorious James Turner Street, dubbed 'Benefits Street' in the popular Channel 4 series.
Dean Easthope, defending, said Shrewsbury-born Price had been living at Oakbank Motel in Church Stretton after being released from prison for another offence, which was not disclosed in court. He described his situation as a 'sad case' that had emerged from the fact he felt he 'couldn't cope in the community any more'.
'He is a Shrewsbury lad. All his friends and family live in Shrewsbury. Everything he knows is in Shrewsbury,' said Mr Easthope.
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Got what he wanted
Got what he wanted
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”