GHEORGHE: GYPSIES JAILED FOR PICKPOCKETING SPREE

A gang of Romanian gypsies who went on pickpocketing spree in Camden days after arriving in Britain have been jailed for a total of over five years today (Thurs).

George Gheorghe, (CORR) 53, Marin Iancu, 21, Marian Igala, 33, Viorel Nica, 48, and Luliana-Nicoleta Palanceanu, 35 targeted drinkers at various pubs along Camden High Street, north London.

They also tried to steal valuables from drunks and partygoers as they got onto night buses.

The gang would distract their victims in pubs, bars or at cashpoints before swiping their valuables until they were caught on CCTV.

Gheorghe, Igala and Nica were today jailed for 15 months each. Iancu was caged for 12 months, while Palanceanu was locked up for 10 months.

Sentencing them Judge Aiden Marron QC said: ‘I take a very dim view of your offending.

‘I’m of the view that you were all part of a group of people who planned to engage in extensive dishonesty – organised thefts – targeting people late at night in public houses, engaging in distraction offences and similar techniques.

‘It maybe that your conspiracy did not achieve it’s full objectives but people must understand that if they are come to this country from Romania to conspire and engage in organised offences of dishonesty – they will receive custodial sentences.’

Mark James-Dawson, prosecuting told the court: ‘What we have here is a spree of thefts or attempted thefts including several members of this group working together.

‘The first theft was of a purse of phone, from a pub, where they can be seen wandering around, making no attempt to buy drinks, clearly looking for targets.

‘On Camden High Street there is an attempted theft, by dropping coins near a user as a distraction type of theft.

‘The theft though is not successful.

‘The final occasion is at a bus stop where two member of the group start arguing, we say as a distraction, and as a young woman tries to get on a bus she feels something in her hand bag.

‘It is captured on CCTV, but she says something along the lines of what are you doing?’

Gheorge of (30) Lower Heston Street, Northampton, Nica of (105) Steven Gard, East Ham,  Igala and Iancu both of (126) Sibley Grove, Manor Park, east London and Palanceanu, of no fixed address all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal.