http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8190875.stm

Prosecutors say they were justified in spending an estimated £20,000 on the crown court trial of a man who was acquitted of stealing a 25p banana.

James Gallagher allegedly stole the fruit from an Italian restaurant in Birmingham's Bullring Shopping Centre.  He chose to be tried by a jury and was cleared this week of burglary and theft at Birmingham Crown Court.

Ok, stealing is wrong and it seems this guy stole a banana (worth 25p).  So when he was caught, he was arrested and instead of just taking a caution the guy wanted to be trial at crown court.  Crown court trials with jurys are not cheap and can take some time to come to court.  In the end it cost over £20,000 pounds and the guy was found not guilty.  Just seems a waste of money for both the courts and mostly for the people he stole from (if he stole it or not).

The people at the business had to make statements then take time of work to come to court etc and in the end it cost that business more in money than it would of cost to let the guy pay for it.

also.... 

His friend, Ogelsby pleaded guilty to burglary at Birmingham Magistrates Court on March 14 and was given a 12-month conditional discharge

He said he had not been given the chance to pay for the goods, even though he had money on him, because the security team had acted and accused him so quickly.

Thats why he was found not guilty, he proved in court that he wasn't given the chance to pay for the banana in the first place.  I bet his friend wish he choose crown court now instead of pleading guilty......