Let-off for tuk-tuk driver who looted restaurants

A Romanian tuk-tuk driver who stole £31,000 of fine wine and champagne from three high-end restaurants was spared jail.

Iuliu Kubola, 61, broke into Piazza Italiana on Threadneedle Street three times in May and June.

Jacqueline Jossa, Charlotte Crosby and Sam Faiers are among stars to have dined at the restaurant which featured on Made In Chelsea.

During one of the raids, he grabbed 73 bottles worth £23,801 and loaded them onto a wheelie bin on his pedicab before riding away, the Old Bailey heard.

Kubola earlier admitted six burglaries relating to eateries in Mayfair, Belgravia and the City of London.

Matthew Jolliffe, prosecuting, said he entered Comptoir Cafe and Wine in Mayfair on May 1 and made off with bottles of wine worth £6,000 as well mas £200 cash from the till.

He made off with more booze from Oliveto in Belgravia on May 13 and June 8.

Kubola, of Islington, raided Piazza Italiana on Threadneedle Street three times.

In the raid on June 6, he took £100 from the till.

Early on June 15, he was caught on CCTV at the restaurant a second time stealing three bottles of wine worth £680 and £55 from the till.

Four days later, he entered the property again but fled empty-handed when the alarm went off.

Kubola was arrested by City of London Police on June 22 while riding his tuk-tuk along Cornhill.

Officers caught him with bottles of Laurent-Perrier champagne, Jack Daniels and vodka.

The Romanian was also armed with a spanner, pliers, screwdrivers, three crowbars and an angle grinder.

Images of bottles of wine found on a mobile phone upon arrest.

Daisy Kell-Jones, defending, had claimed Kubola previously worked at Oliveto and Piazza Italiana restaurants.

Ms Kell-Jones told the Old Bailey today (mon): ‘It is clear that Mr Kubola has expressed remorse.

‘Mr Kubola would like it made clear on his behalf that when he was arrested, he was found with various tools and also some wine and Jack Daniels.

‘He would like it made clear that those tools were in case his vehicle broke down.

‘As for the wine and the Jack Daniels, they were not stolen items; he had a receipt on him.

‘Mr Kubola acknowledges that he had a problem with drinking, but since his remand, he has been abstinent.’

The Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft had adjourned sentence to allow Kubola the chance to ‘make good’ his promise to return the wine.

Since then some 32 bottles, worth approximately £7,000, have been returned to the rightful owners.

Prosecution are still seeking costs for the remaining booze and there will be a further hearing on December 11.

Judge Lucraft told Kubola: ‘You fall to be sentenced for a total of 6 non-dwelling burglaries.

‘The burglaries span the period between 1 May and 19 June 2025.

‘You appear to have targeted high-value wines from two restaurants in particular.

‘When interviewed, you raised no defence and did not dispute the allegations.

‘In a later interview, when asked about the wine and what you intended to do with it, you said it was intended to be drunk.’

Kubola, who was assisted in the dock by a Romanian interpreter, had three previous convictions dating back to 2017, for theft, road traffic offences and possession of cocaine.

Judge Lucraft added: ‘You have accepted your offending and some remorse has been shown.

‘It was submitted that much of the wine you wished to be returned to its rightful owners.

‘I made clear I was not saying the return of the wine would not necessarily make a difference to sentence.’

Kubola was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He must also undergo a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Detective Constable Marcus Fairclough, in the Criminal Investigation Department of the City of London Police, earlier said:

‘Thanks to the good work by our officers, who spotted him and quickly made enquiries and the arrest, Iuliu Kubola will face the consequences of his criminality.

‘Burglary has a significant impact on businesses and residential communities.

‘We will attend all reports of break-ins in the City; giving us the best chance of making an arrest and collecting evidence from a scene.

‘We will always take this type of criminality seriously and thoroughly investigate all evidential leads, including forensics, to bring those perpetrators to justice.’

Kubola had also caused more than £1,400 worth of damage to doors and locks in his rampage.

Physical Forensics Manager Andrew Walker, of the City of London Police, said: ‘Our fast response is vital to maximise forensic opportunities and lessen the impact on the victims.

‘Being burgled is horrendous; not being able to tidy up or open your business and resume trading exacerbates this massively.

‘The victim is at the heart of everything we do. Delivering them justice, whilst minimising the impact that crime has on them, is the bedrock on which City of London Police Forensic Services operates.’

Detective Chief Inspector Ken Ives said: ‘In City of London (police), we go to every single burglary.

‘Burglary is a priority for us, which is why we act so quickly.

‘Some wine has been recovered, we have no evidence of that (him working there) being true.

‘When we have a burglary, that is a priority for us, and our response officers are very active.

‘We have a number of prolific burglars that have been locked up.’