The Beams From the Site

A man took four wooden beams from a construction site. He was charged with theft. There was evidence from which a jury could find that he believed the beams had been abandoned as worthless and that the owner would not object to his taking them. There was also evidence that the beams had real value and that he had no right to them. The judge told the jury his belief was a defence only if it was both honest and reasonable. Theft here requires a specific intent to steal.