Travelling thieves face court

A gang of thieves from Glasgow who decided to target businesses in Barnard Castle and Bishop Auckland, thought they’d got away with it last year.

However, following an investigation by the Barnard Castle Neighbourhood Policing Team, three appeared at court and a special taxi in way of a police van was arranged by our colleagues in Police Scotland for one that didn't show.

Emmanuel Ciurar, 20, was charged with three thefts and put before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (January 7) where he pleaded guilty to all three charges and was sentenced to 36 weeks in prison as well as being ordered to pay compensation to the businesses.

Ciurar joins Marcel Rostas, Florica Covaci and Gruti Lingurar who were also dealt with for the same incidents last October.

Rostas, 37, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft from Iceland in Bishop Auckland and was fined £400.

Covaci, 35, was dealt with for two thefts from Iceland in Bishop Auckland and fined £120.

And Lingurar pleaded guilty to two thefts from both Barnard Castle and Bishop Auckland, driving without a licence and having no insurance.

The 30-year-old was fined £40 and disqualified from driving for six months.

A/PS Robert Booth, of Barnard Castle Neigbourhood Policing Team, said: “Theft has a detrimental impact on our businesses and we will rigorously pursue anyone who tries to target our communities, even if that means extending our enquiries across borders.”