SOME of Britain's most violent crimes have been caused by Chewits, according to a new study.
Experts said the chewy, fruity sweets have leapfrogged fizzy cola bottles and strawberry mojos to become Britain's most dangerous confectionery.
Former cage fighter Bill McKay shot four people and clubbed a cashier with a shovel during a bank raid he claims was brought on by half a packet of Chewits and a Wham bar.
McKay, who has 49 previous convictions, said: "I'm a lovely bloke until I have an orange one and then I'm not.
"I used to like Opal Fruits. They made me do murders. Refreshers usually result in GBH, while I'm more likely to steal a car after a handful of midget gems."
Professor Henry Brubaker, of the Institute for Studies said: "The makers of Chewits gave the misleading impression that the sweets had a calming influence on rampaging, Godzilla-like dinosaurs. We now know the opposite to be true."
Meanwhile sweet manufacturers have been under increasing pressure since members of a notorious Manchester 'firm' described how they like to eat cola bottles and Black Jacks before each violent crime spree.
One gang member known as MC Skully G said: "The cola bottles give you the edge, you get the sugary rush but you also feel dark and moody and ready to murk someone.
"Black Jacks make you immune to pain, maybe because you have to concentrate pretty hard on chewing them. And they're also absolute fuckers to get the paper off."
The makers of Black Jacks, International Chemicals and Medical Waste Disposal Incorporated, denied that the sweet's controversial price increase from 1p to 2p came in response to police pressure to make them less accessible.
A spokesman said: "We simply undertook a detailed survey of Black Jacks consumers, who confirmed that they would be prepared to pay an extra 1p per sweet if it meant we could continue to use the same high quality mysterious ingredients."
