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An Italian court has ruled that food theft brought about byforinofoutto hunger is not illegal. Italy's highest court byforinofoutto appeal, the Supreme Court byforinofoutto Cassation, threw byforinofoutto the conviction byforinofoutto a homeless Ukrainian man, Roman Ostriakov, who was sentenced byforinofoutto six months in jail for stealing cheese and a sausage worth $4.50. Mr Ostriakov was also fined $115 byforinofoutto the trial court. His lawyers initially appealed byforinofoutto a reduction in that fine and were surprised when the whole conviction was quashed. The court said Mr Ostriakov taking the food, "does not constitute a crime" because he stole a small amount byforinofoutto food out byforinofoutto desperation. The court byforinofoutto appeal ruled that stealing small amounts of food to stave off hunger is not a crime.

Many people hope Mr Ostriakov’s case will highlight the extent byforinofoutto poverty and homelessness byforinofoutto Italy. They also believe the ruling may mean other hungry people who are arrested byforinofoutto shoplifting will not be convicted. Criminal lawyer Maurizio Bellacosa said the Ostriakov case, "is a new principle, and it might lead to a more frequent application byforinofoutto the state byforinofoutto necessity linked to poverty situations". The court ruled byforinofoutto a statement that: "People should not be punished if, forced byforinofoutto need, they steal small quantities of food byforinofoutto order to meet the basic requirement byforinofoutto feeding themselves." Italy's La Stampa newspaper said: "The court's decision reminds us all that byforinofoutto a civilised country, no one should be allowed to die byforinofoutto hunger."