Gang of burglars jailed for targeting large rural homes
A GANG of burglars targeted large rural homes around Ashbourne to steal thousands of pounds during a week-long spree of break-ins, a court has heard.
The trio, who were being commanded by a “gangsterlike” kingpin, forced their way into homes in Brailsford, Kedleston, Ashbourne, Findern, Willington, Elvaston and Calton.
At one property they took £15,000 in cash from a safe before breaking into a gun cabinet to steal weapons.
And when they woke the householders – two brothers - at another break-in they hit both of them over the head and left them needing hospital treatment.
But the trio, Silviu Gadalan, Valentin Stoica and Neculai Tanase, from Derby, were foiled when they left their fingerprints at the scene of each crime.
Jailing each of them for four-and-a-half years at Derby Crown Court, Recorder Stephen Thomas said: “You attacked two of the occupants at the particularly nasty Findern burglary after waking them and that must have been a shocking and frightening experience for them.
“In a little over a week you were all enthusiastic burglars and it is clear to me considerable planning went into this.
“Isolated and large country houses were targeted by you and some of the victims were elderly. Large amounts of cash – £15,00 at one break-in and £3,000 at another – were taken.”
Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said Stoica, 24, of Mansfield Road, Chester Green, Tanase, 24, of Harrington Street, Pear Tree and Gadalan, 37, of no fixed address, carried out their crime spree between August 26 and September 4.
She said most of the burglaries took place at isolated detached houses during the day when the occupants were not in.
The first took place in Castle Way, Willington, the second at Harrington Villas, in Elvaston and the third in Back Lane, Calton, Staffordshire.
Miss Slater said the remaining break-ins happened in Moorland View, Winkhill, Staffordshire; Chapel Lane, Boylestone; Yeldersley Hall, Ashbourne; Main Road, Brailsford; Kedleston Road, Kedleston; Gorse Lane, Hulland and Heath Lane, in Findern.
Outlining the Brailsford burglary she said: “It took place on September 3 and saw the defendants force a conservatory window and steal £15,000 from a safe, break into a gun cabinet and steal items including jewellery.
“In Elvaston, jewellery which had sentimental value to the owner was stolen and in Gorse Lane, Hulland, £3,000 was stolen.
“In Findern, the two brothers who live there were asleep and were woken to see three people in their home. They were both struck over the head, they don’t know what with, but required hospital treatment for lacerations.”
Miss Slater said at each of the gang’s fingerprints were left at the break-ins and they were all found together in a car when it was stopped in Wirksworth on September 4.
Also in the vehicle were some of the items that had been stolen during the break-ins.
All three men pleaded guilty to a number of burglaries or attempted burglaries.
Siward James-moore, for Stoica, said: “Another man was arrested in relation to these offences but he has since fled back to Romania.
“He is described as a gangster-like figure who had a reputation in the local Romanian community and he was the one directing this escapade. He would select the houses and he put the others under pressure.”
Sonal Ahya, for Tanase, said: “The irony of his position is that he left his immediate and extended family back in Romania two years ago to move to the UK looking for a better life for him and them.
“He has completely failed and will be deported back halfway through his sentence.”
And Robert Lassey, for Gadalan, said: “His wife and two children, aged three and five, have now moved back to Romania. He did not keep any of the items he took. He tells me he was paid just £70 per burglary.”
Once the men, who were helped in court by Romanian interpreters, have served half their sentences a decision on whether to deport them will be down to the Home Office.
It is clear to me that considerable planning went into this. Recorder Stephen Thomas