Man turns to crime to support cancer-stricken mum
Two thieves who targeted a scrap metal merchants in Scunthorpe have been jailed, after one claimed he had turned to crime in order to support his cancer-stricken mum.
The incident occurred on January 2 at around 9:50pm.
Florin Ciuraru, 25, and Marius Ilie, 33, of no fixed address, have admitted to burglary.
The men were spotted by eagle-eyed security camera operators and Humberside Police were soon alerted to the break-in.
During the raid, the pair targeted LAS Metals on Midland Road at night to steal a valuable haul of copper.
Twenty sacks of scrap copper, valued at £4,000, had been removed, with damage to the premises being estimated at around £2,000.
One of the men claimed that he was simply trying to raise cash for his dying mother.
She was suffering from cancer at the time and he wanted to send money home to her – but she had since died.
Glenn Parsons, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that the premises was being monitored by CCTV when a security alert was spotted.
Police arrived on the scene and surrounded the yard .
They discovered six masked men, five of whom were arrested, including the two before court.
Judge John Thackray QC said:
“This was a serious offence. It was a group, planned activity and it involved going equipped.
“The offence is so serious that only immediate prison sentences can be justified.”
Florian Ciuraru said his intention was to send money home to his mother, who had been seriously ill with cancer at the time, but she had since died.
He has no previous convictions.
Marius Ilie had previously served 12-week suspended prison sentence for two burglary offences.
Ciuraru was jailed for a year and Ilie was sentenced to 14 months.
Three other men were also jailed for their involvement.
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