A Nottingham phone thief has been banned from entering pubs and clubs across the UK in what police call an unprecedented order.
Iulian Cornea, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, October 4, 2013, to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to the theft of a Smartphone at a Nottingham bar. On his release from prison the 25-year-old will be subject to a bolt-on criminal Antisocial Behaviour Order, known as a CRASBO, which will, until further notice, prevent him from entering any on-licensed premises in the UK between 9pm and 9am. He is also banned from Nottingham City Centre.
The 25-year-old admitted to detectives that he ‘liked the phone’ so he just took it out of a handbag, which was over the shoulder of his 30-year-old victim, at Bad Juju bar, in Broad Street, on Friday 6 September 2013.
He was arrested at the bar soon after, when the victim notified security who detained him until officers arrived.
The Nottingham force’s Mobile Phone Theft Reduction (MPTR) team believed that civil legislation could help in restricting the movements of Cornea. They passed the case to the Central Enforcement Team, of police and council partnership Community Protection, who applied for the order in a first for the country.
Judge Jonathan Teare sanctioned the application in court, reiterating that phones are more than just phones, they are people’s lives and cause a lot of stress and upset when they are stolen.
Detective Constable Stuart Barson, of the MPTR team, said after the court case: “We are thrilled with the result. The Judge obviously recognised the gravity of this growing crime trend and wanted to set an example to other thieves out there that if you steal phones in Nottinghamshire you will not only go to jail, but we will do all we can within the law to prevent you from doing it again. I’d also like to recognise the conscientious and quick actions of the victim, whose timely reporting to security guards that night led to the arrest.”
Councillor Sam Webster, Executive Officer for Public Protection for Nottingham City Council, said: “Nottingham is the capital of the East Midlands, where thousands of people head to for a great and safe night out. Our status as a Purple Flag city can attest to that.
“Our enforcement team have been responsible for several ‘firsts’ for the UK, and we’re recognised nationally for the way we use civil legislation.
“Excluding people like Cornea can only enhance our reputation, ensuring that our night time economy continues to thrive. We will continue to work with the police to tackle crime at every opportunity.”
Advice
Keep your phone close, in a fastened pocket or bag. Back up the content on your handset and register it with www.immobilise.com so that if it’s lost or stolen you have a better chance of getting it back. Install a tracking app and record your IMEI number.
