Joby Pool, 32, used a metal grinder to break into an industrial unit in Telford, Shropshire, on the evening of 11 February.

He then drove off in a stolen lorry cab with a trailer full of chocolate products worth more than £31,000.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court on Thursday, Pool, of Tingley, near Leeds, was jailed by Judge Anthony Lowe for a year and a half.

Half of that is to be spent in prison and the other half on licence, with his six months in custody counting towards his time behind bars.

Pool had previously admitted theft, criminal damage and driving without insurance.

Judge Lowe added one month to be served concurrently for the criminal damage offence, and added six points to Pool's driving licence for driving without insurance.

The court heard Pool had used a tractor unit that had been stolen in Yorkshire in October to tow away the trailer from an industrial unit belonging to SW Group Logistics in Stafford Park, Telford.

The stolen eggs were then driven on to the northbound M42, where Pool surrendered by walking towards police "with his hands up" near junction 11.

Judge Lowe said he was not convinced Pool was the only person involved in the planning of the theft and there was a "significant degree" of preparation.

"There was the taking of a tractor unit that was driven from Castleford down here to carry out the theft. There must have been inside information or a recce to identify the trailer and if it was worth taking," he said.

"An angle grinder was taken and false plates were obtained to put on the trailer. I am pretty sure others would have been involved in this enterprise."

Defending Pool, Debra White said he has shown "genuine remorse" for what he had done and was sorry for the effect it had had on his family and the company involved.

West Mercia Police had posted on Twitter two days after the theft detailing how they "helped save Easter" after arresting Pool.

"West Mercia Police has helped save Easter for Creme Egg fans after almost 200,000 of the chocolate treats were stolen from a unit in Stafford Park in Telford," the force posted.

"The eggs-travagent theft took place on Saturday 11 February with the chocolate collection box thought to be worth around £40,000. Along with the Creme Eggs a number of other chocolate varieties were also stolen.

"Shortly after the theft a vehicle, presumably purporting to be the Easter bunny, was stopped northbound on the M42 and a man was arrested on suspicion of theft."