Prolific Offenders.

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Suspended sentences for prolific ‘choc-lifters’  unpaid work and a ban on entering three major UK stores ⬇️  

Two prolific shoplifters have been given suspended sentences after stealing almost £5,000 worth of chocolate from shops across the country. 

Romanian nationals, Vasile Leonard Ionescu, 26, of Spring Road, Ipswich and Daniel Florin Mihai, 29, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of theft and 10 counts of theft respectively. Both pleaded guilty to one count of attempted theft each. 

The pair appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on 25 March where they were each given eight-month jail sentences suspended for two years. They were both issued with a rehabilitation activity requirement and a two-year criminal behaviour order preventing them from entering a Tesco, Sainsbury's or Co-Op store anywhere in the UK. In addition, Ionescu must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and Mihai must carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. 

North Yorkshire Police led the investigation following multiple reports of shop theft in late 2025 and early 2026, mainly in the Harrogate area. However, the investigation also took into account thefts committed in other areas of the country including Kent, Surrey, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and West Yorkshire. 

The pair brazenly walked into supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsbury’s and stole hundreds of pounds worth of mainly chocolate products. 

In total they stole £4,917.99 worth of goods with the highest amount during any one theft being £670 worth of Lindt, Galaxy and Cadbury chocolate stolen from Sainsbury’s in Malton. 

Following the development of intelligence reports linked to the series of offences, the defendants were arrested by North Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Group on 3 March 2026 as they travelled along the A1(M) heading towards Dishforth.

The investigator who led the case, Police Staff Investigator Jamie Brownhill, said: “Shoplifting costs our economy millions of pounds and that loss not only impacts on local businesses and local town, the cost passes on to law-abiding members of the public. 

“We take shoplifting extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice. 

“I’d like to thank my fellow colleagues in the Investigation Hub for their hard work and dedication throughout this investigation to ensure this case was brought before the courts.

“Together it is our priority to protect our communities, support local businesses, and keep North Yorkshire safe. We will continue to work proactively with partners and retailers to prevent crime and ensure those who choose to offend are held to account.

“This case demonstrates the value of swift reporting, strong partnership working, and determined investigative work. We encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour or criminal activity to come forward. 

“In this case offenders travelled into North Yorkshire specifically to commit crime, and we want to make it absolutely clear that this behaviour will be met with firm and decisive action. Those who come here to target our towns and businesses should expect to be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.”

Photo shows the pair being arrested on the A1 in March, both wearing baseball caps, Ionescu is on the left, Mihai on the right.