Sing-Sing Schnitzel

Long gone are the times when people could get into trouble for "mouth robbery" in Germany: Until 1975, stealing negligible amounts of food -- say a piece of butter, or a bread roll or maybe a sausage -- could lead to a penalty of 500 deutsche marks (about 250 euros or $340) and up to six weeks in prison.

While it's not clear whether Stephan S., a 43-year-old unemployed truck driver from Berlin, was ever aware of this change in the law, he seems to have forgotten that ordering restaurant meals and refusing to pay for them afterwards is still frowned upon.

The 160-kilogram (340-pound) guy should have realized that something wasn't quite right when a judge sentenced him to one year in jail on probation for eating too many schnitzels without paying for them.

On Thursday, however, he was back in court after stuffing himself at 64 further restaurants, whose owners complained that they were left with some 3,000 euros ($4,100) in unpaid bills as a result.

That's why the judge ordered him to spend 18 months in prison, prompting Stephan S. to complain that he hadn't brought his toothbrush along.

Despite the potential for bad breath, S. might have secretly rejoiced about the verdict -- after all he'll be getting free food for a year and a half without having to worry about angry waiters chasing him.

Odds are he's already checked the schedule for schnitzel day.