'Desperate' Romanian stole to feed family

'I came to England to work' claims defendant

A MAN who came to England to find work stole nearly £1,000 worth of spirits from a Newbury store, town magistrates heard on Thursday, May 14.

Vasile Gheorghe, who arrived from Romania with his wife and children 14 months ago, was “desperate” to feed them, the court was told.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said: “This was a high value shoplifting.”

She said the 26-year-old loaded his trolley with bottles of spirits in Sainsbury’s in Hectors Way and left the store without paying.

Upon his arrest, she added, he exercised his right to silence but handed police a note in which he said: “I know what I did was wrong and illegal. I’m sorry for my actions. I won’t do it again. I came to England to work, not to steal. This was a mistake.”

Mr Gheorghe, who now lives in Hounslow, Middlesex, admitted stealing spirits worth £888.45 on March 21 this year.

Lydia Etheridge, defending, said Mr Gheorghe had worked in cleaning jobs and at a car wash but had not been getting enough work to feed his family.

She added: “This was done in a moment oif desperation.”

Mr Gheorghe, who followed proceedings via an interpreter provided by the court, was fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 costs plus a statutory £20 surcharge.