Four people who went on a stealing spree commiting fraud across businesses based in Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest have been jailed this week.

The defendants all of Romanian nationality appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Monday to face several charges relating to offences that occurred on Friday, September 6.

Eighteen-year-old Leonal Angel Calugareanu of St Peter Road, Luton was charged with two counts of fraud using a slight of hand deception intending to make a gain and driving a vehicle without a license.

Mr. Calugareanu was also charged with aiding and abetting and having no insurance, but these offences were withdrawn by the prosecution.

Twenty-four-year-old, Lasmina Rostas of no fixed address was charged with three counts of theft and one count of fraud using a slight of hand deception.

Thirty-year-old, Loredana Silva of no fixed address was charged with three counts of theft.

Thirty-two-year-old Munteam Terca of Dallow Road, Luton was charged with three counts of theft, one count of fraud using a slight of hand deception and one count of breaching a suspended sentence order.

In court it was heard that the theft and fraud offences were committed by the defendants at Pembroke Dock’s B and M store and Pennar post office, and the Next, Boots, Peacocks stores in Haverfordwest.

Magistrates heard that the items stolen from Boots were worth over £2,574.55, whilst £119 worth of items were stolen from Pennar Post offence and B and M in total.

It was also heard that Mr. Calugareanu committed fraud of £400 by using a slight hand of deception at Next in Haverfordwest.

Prosecutor, Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the offences were not picked up by the shops initially, but were later spotted on CCTV.

The police were later told about the culprits’ actions and following enquiries, they eventually found the defendants travelling in a Black Mercedes on the A40 near Haverfordwest that same day, and pulled them over.

It was here that officers searched the vehicle and found items which were still wrapped up in the boot.

The defendants could not give a suitable explanation as to why the items were still wrapped up and they were subsequently arrested.

They also had over a £1,000 in cash in their possession when searched.

When questioned by the police, the three female defendants gave a ‘no comment’ interview.

However, Mr. Calugareanu admitted that he had attempted fraud at the Next store and also admitted that he was with the female defendants in the area to commit the offences.

Magistrates also heard that the defendants had been travelling around for five or six days.

Mr. Pritchard-Jones deemed this as “clear aggravating features” as he read out the facts against the defendants to the court.

Magistrates were also told that some of the defendants had previous convictions.

Defending, Mr. Calugareanu, solicitor Mike Kelleher said that his client was the only one who answered the questions put to him by police officers.

He mentioned that the defendant accepted that he had behaved in a fraudulent manner.

Mr. Kelleher told the court that Mr. Calugareanu had not told him that he had been pressurised into committing the offences.

He said that his client was very remorseful and had learnt his lesson.

When defending Miss Rostas, Mr. Kelleher said that his client had only been in the country for a few days with her young children and was told that she was visiting friends.

He said that she accepted that she had played a full part in the crimes, after giving into pressure and was extremely remorseful.

Defending, Miss Sava, solicitor Jonathan Webb said his client was due for deportation back to Romania.

He said that the defendant accepted culpability in this matter and accepted the case put forward by the prosecution.

Magistrates also heard how Miss. Sava had 12 previous convictions for 19 historical offences, the last coming in 2013.

Defending Miss. Terca, Mr Webb explained that that she was subjected to a suspended prison sentence imposed by West and Central Hertfordshire Magistrates

Court for theft offences dating back to June 2018.

He said that his client accepted that she had breached her suspended sentence.

Sentencing, Miss Terca the chairman of the magistrates bench, David Ellis, said: “I am duty bound to activate the suspended sentence.”

As a result, the defendant was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison for the high value theft of items from Boots, 26 weeks for the fraud offence, and a further nine weeks for breaching the suspended prison sentence, to be served consecutively.

The defendant will also serve one week concurrently for the theft of items from Peacocks and B and M.

She was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £122.

Mr. Calugareanu was sentenced to 26 weeks in a young offenders institute for the fraud offence, and also saw his driving licence endorsed with three points.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £122.

Miss Rostas was jailed for 26 weeks for the offence of fraud and 26 weeks for the high valued theft of items from Boots which will be served consecutively.

She was also handed a further jail sentence of a week for the theft of the items from Peacocks and Pennar post office, to be served concurrently, and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £149 victim surcharge.

Miss Sava was jailed for 26 weeks for the high value theft of items from Boots and was given a one-week sentence for theft of the items from Peacocks and Pennar post office, to be served concurrently.

She was also ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £122.