A ROMANIAN teenager went on a shoplifting spree around the UK which ended with him being arrested in Dunfermline, when he was caught stealing as part of a gang.

George Ganea was only 18 at the time of his three separate thieving offences in Dunfermline, which brought in a haul worth more than £2,500.

Ganea had been caught previously stealing across England and Northern Ireland.

Two addresses where he had been residing in Stoke-in-Trent and Dundee were described as crime hubs by local police.

Ganea, now 19, was sentenced to six months detention when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court alongside a translator.

He was described by the sheriff as “an accomplished thief” who had come to the UK with the sole purpose of stealing.

Ganea, of Greengates Street, Stoke-on-Trent, previously admitted three offences in Dunfermline.

On November 4, at Holland and Barrett, Kingsgate Centre, whilst acting with others, he stole a quantity of high-value honey. The haul was worth £424 and there was no recovery.

On the same day at Tesco, Winterthur Lane, whilst acting with others, he stole a quantity of electrical items, razor blades, printer ink and an item of clothing.

The value of the goods was £800 and there was no recovery. A shop worker saw Ganea leaving with a “bulging” gift bag but he was not stopped. When CCTV was looked at, Ganea’s thieving was evident.

On November 10, at the same Tesco store, whilst acting with others, he concealed a quantity of razors, electrical items and printer ink within a bag, then covered them with an item of clothing in an attempt to steal them.

This time, he was recognised and stopped as he tried to steal goods worth £1,300.

Bail had been refused previously for inquiries to be made about a Dundee accommodation address Ganea had given.

He claimed this was the home of a friend. However, the court heard police in Dundee had intelligence that the address was being used for drug-dealing.

The court also heard Ganea was in breach of an unpaid work order in Stoke imposed for offences there.

Defence solicitor Lesley Cunningham said her client had come to Dunfermline to meet a friend of his father but could not find him. Instead, he met other Romanians who pressured him into stealing.

However, Sheriff Richard McFarlane pointed out Ganea’s shoplifting crimes covered a wide area, including Northern Ireland, Merseyside, Staffordshire and Hertfordshire.

When the solicitor said her client’s plan had been to send money back to Romania, the sheriff commented: “It’s where that money was going to come from that concerns me.”

Sheriff McFarlane told Ganea: “You are an accomplished thief and what terrifies me is the age at which you were committing these crimes.”

He added: “I’m in no doubt that you’ve come to the UK for the sole purpose of committing such offences and I accept that you were not acting alone.

“There are warrants for your arrest which have been granted in other parts of the UK. The value of goods in these thefts was very significant. You knew exactly what you were doing.”

Sheriff McFarlane imposed a sentence of six months detention.