Thief admits snatching OAP's purse from Oswestry Aldi
A man who stole a pensioner’s purse in a “despicable crime” while she was shopping in a supermarket has been ordered to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work.
The 87-year-old woman was shopping in Aldi, Oswestry, on October 24 when her black leather purse containing £75 was swiped by Catalin-mihai Verea.
The Romanian national pleaded guilty to one offence of theft at Telford Magistrates Court.
His victim was unaware that her money and loyalty cards had been stolen until she got to the till to pay for her goods.
Miss Abigail Hall, prosecuting, told the court that the theft was captured on the security cameras at the Oswald Road store.
incident that happened shortly after the elderly woman arrived to the premises at 10.15am was captured on the security cameras at the store, in Oswald Road.
She said that Verea, 44, had followed the victim who was unaware she was being targeted along the aisles.
In her victim impact statement, the woman said: “To be honest I’m as tough as old boots. I have been carrying on as normal. I was not physically hurt and I didn’t know anything until I got to the till and I couldn’t find my purse.
“Since this happened I have carried on with my normal routine. It hasn’t stopped me. Obviously I lost the cash from my purse. Also it costs me about £48 a week in bus fares because I haven’t got my free bus pass.”
Miss Lisa Morris-Jones, for Verea, told the court that her client, who has been living in the UK for 12 months, regretted what he had done and was “remorseful”. She said he had caught a lift to Oswestry after being promised cleaning work, but when he arrived no-one turned up to meet him.
“He accepts that he was responsible for his actions and has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He was fully co-operative with the police,” Miss Morris-Jones added. The court also heard that the cash was removed from the purse, which was thrown in a bin.
The magistrates ordered Verea, of Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, to pay £192.50 in compensation, £185 costs and a victims’ surcharge of £85.
“We find that this is a despicable crime. The only good thing was that the victim was emotionally strong,” the chairwoman of the bench Mrs Margaret Linington-Payne said.
