And finally… paper thin defence

Anthony McLean, 29, attempted to pay for a £1.40 portion of chips with Rizla cigarette papers - claiming they were worth 20p each.

When refused, a drunken brawl allegedly broke out.

Police told Teesside Magistrates Court that McLean threw a charity collection tin at one of the shop workers and assaulted another.

Chairs were supposedly used as weapons during the bizarre episode.

Shop owner Sheraz Butt explained: ” said ‘can I get a portion of chips’, so I asked him for £1.40. He started getting me the Rizlas and said they were worth 20p each. I said, ‘That is not money, it is a cigarette Rizla’, but he said, ‘No, it is money’.”

However, police were unable to show CCTV evidence to the court as they had waited too long to collect it.

McLean was found not guilty on two charges of asasult by beating.