Man selling edible insects jailed for shoplifting scam

A businessman who sells edible insects has been jailed for a professional shoplifting scheme where he stole high-value household goods to order.

Anthonie van Wilderoden, aged 44, a Dutch national living in Wicklow, set up a business called Eddiebug with the help of a government loan. The firm sells insects as a speciality foodstuff. He is also the director of a chocolate-making company in Wicklow.

He said he began the shoplifting enterprise because he had built up heavy debt and his estranged wife had gone to America with his children leaving him with no way to support himself.