Criminals banned from holding pieces of paper in shops and cafes

Two criminals have been banned from holding pieces of paper in shops or cafes after committing a series of cruel distraction thefts. Ion Anghel, 31, targeted students and people relaxing in coffee shops in a month long crime spree.

He would distract them by holding a piece of paper or card, and pretending to be offering a discount on food. Then he would steal their mobile phone.

Another criminal, Alexandru Rostas, 22, joined in with the scam for one day when three victims were targeted. The pair were both jailed earlier this month.

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At a subsequent hearing at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday, a judge imposed criminal behaviour orders on both men. When they are released from jail, both will be banned from entering commercial premises holding a piece of paper or card of A4 size.

They will also be prohibited from being in possession of a mobile phone which is not registered to them, and attempting to to touch a mobile phone which doesn't belong to them. He was also banned from entering buildings operated by the University of Manchester or Manchester Metropolitan University. The order lasts for four years.

Anghel struck eight times between June and July this summer, the pair's sentencing hearing heard. One victim was an international student who felt ‘hopeless’ without her phone as she relied on it for ‘everything’.

On another occasion a motorist sat in Starbucks had his keys stolen. When he realised the keys to his Mercedes had been taken he rushed to his car, only to see Anghel preparing to speed off in it.

He desperately tried to