A man who stole £2,500 from a 62-year-old woman in Harrow has been jailed.
Daniel Calinescu, 42, who is a Romanian national of no fixed abode in the UK pleaded guilty yesterday (15 October) at Southwark Crown Court to four counts of theft. He has now been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
He was part of a group of between four and six individuals that are yet to be brought to justice.
Met police officers linked the following incidents:-
- 78-year-old woman had £2,500 stolen in St John’s Hill, Battersea on 9 July,
- A 62-year-old woman had £2,500 stolen in Shrewsbury Avenue, Harrow on 19 July,
- A 73-year-old woman had £1,700 stolen in Barrett’s Grove, Hackney on 29 July
- And a 72-year-old woman had £4,500 stolen in High Street, Ealing W5 on 20 August.
Calinescu watched elderly and vulnerable people withdraw large sums of money over the counter at banks. He then followed them as they walked away and stole the cash from each victim, sometimes using a knife to slash bags open.
On sentencing him at Southwark Crown Court, Judge Joanna Korner told Calinescu: “You have pleaded guilty to four counts of theft, the most unpleasant and nasty offences which can be committed within this category of crime. No doubt you were deliberately targeting victims because of their obvious vulnerability. No other punishment is suitable other than immediate imprisonment; it must be of some length to mark public disapproval of people such as yourself and your activities.
DS Shaun Holyhead of RTPC said: “I am pleased with the conviction and sentence handed down today. We are working hard to identify Calinescu’s associates and other criminals who target Londoners in this way.”
(Image Credit: news.met.police.uk)
