Two Romanian nationals have been banned from entering any Tesco, Sainsbury's, or Co-op store across the United Kingdom following a year-long campaign of chocolate theft.
Vasile Leonard Ionescu, 26, and Daniel Florin Mihai, 29, admitted to stealing confectionery worth £4,917.99 from shops nationwide during a court appearance at York Magistrates' Court yesterday.
The pair received eight-month prison terms, suspended for two years, after Ionescu pleaded guilty to 18 theft offences and Mihai to 10 counts.
Both also admitted to one count of attempted theft.
A two-year criminal behaviour order now bars them from the three major supermarket chains throughout Britain.
The criminal operation extended across multiple regions of England, with thefts recorded in Kent, Surrey, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and West Yorkshire over late 2025 and early 2026.
North Yorkshire Police spearheaded the inquiry after receiving numerous reports of shop thefts in the Harrogate area.
Ionescu and Mihai would enter supermarkets, including Tesco and Sainsbury's, before leaving with substantial quantities of chocolate products.
Two Romanian nationals who stole £5,000 worth of chocolate received eight-month prison terms, suspended for two years
|NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE
Their most lucrative single raid occurred at a Sainsbury's branch in Malton, where they took £670 worth of premium confectionery, including Lindt, Galaxy and Cadbury brands.
The duo had travelled more than 200 miles from their Suffolk base to target stores in Malton, York, Harrogate and Knaresborough.
On March 3, the caper came to an end when North Yorkshire Police's Road Policing Group intercepted them on the A1(M) motorway near Dishforth.
Officers had developed intelligence reports connecting the two men to the series of offences across the region.
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The pair have been banned from entering every Tesco, Sainsbury's, or Co-op store across the United Kingdom
|GETTY
Ionescu, who gave his address as Spring Road in Ipswich, and Mihai, listed as having no fixed abode, were apprehended as they drove towards Dishforth.
The arrest followed determined investigative work by North Yorkshire Police's Investigation Hub, which had linked multiple theft reports to build a comprehensive case against the prolific shoplifters.
In addition to the suspended sentences, Ionescu was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Mihai received a requirement for 180 hours.
Both men must also undertake rehabilitation activities.
Their most lucrative raid saw them pilfer £670 worth of premium confectionery, including Lindt, Galaxy and Cadbury brands
|GETTY
Police Staff Investigator Jamie Brownhill, who led the case, said: "Shoplifting costs our economy millions of pounds and that loss not only impacts local businesses and the 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.
"In this case, offenders travelled into North Yorkshire specifically to commit a crime, and we want to make it absolutely clear that this behaviour will be met with firm and decisive action.
“Together, it is our priority to protect our communities, support local businesses, and keep North Yorkshire safe."
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