Which justice system sucks now, Britain?

As you may or may not have noticed, most of my police/justice system incompetance stories comre from metro.co.uk. And all are focused on American incompetence. Today, the UK's Daily Mail, was kind enought to even the score a little with this gem.

A man prosecuted for stealing a 25p [About $0.50 US] banana has been cleared after a trial which cost the taxpayer £20,000. James Gallagher, 23, was accused of stealing the fruit from the Del Villagio restaurant in Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre. But a jury at Birmingham Crown Court jurors took less than half an hour to find him not guilty of burglary and a lesser charge of theft. Speaking after the verdict was delivered, Mr Gallagher said: 'It's shocking, it's just a waste of taxpayers' money. I cannot understand how they've got away with it.' Recorder Mr Shamim Qureshi told the jury before they delivered their verdict: 'It is easy sometimes to think "What is this case doing at the crown court?"[Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1205035/Taxpayer-funds-20-000-court-case-prosecute-man-stealing-25p-banana--guilty.html#ixzz0NW2O66PT]

So to review, the British taxpayers spent the equivalent of 40,000 US dollars to try a man for stealing a fifty-cent banana. And he was acquitted. Wow. Way to go, Britain. I do believe that just earned you a slow clap.