Man sentenced to eight years in jail for stealing cheese!

London, March 4 (ANI): A man has been sentenced to nearly eight years in jail after stealing a piece of cheese - worth 2.50 pounds.

Robert Ferguson, who has a history of 13 convictions and has spent 22 of the last 27 years in prison, was said to have dodged California's "three strikes" law in 1994.

Prosecutors originally sought a life sentence for the cheese thief but withdrew after reviewing a psychological report that apparently convinced them life in jail was not warranted.

Ferguson's lawyer Monica Brushia argued the petty charges did not deserve a heavy sentence.

"We're talking about a pack of cheese," The Sun quoted Brushia as saying.

Ferguson, who has already spent 825 days in jail awaiting trial, is now required to serve half his sentence in prison and will be eligible for parole in three years. (ANI)