A prolific shop burglar was part of a gang who swiped about £75,000-worth of electrical items during raids on John Lewis stores.

Laptops, speakers and smart watches were among hundreds of high value items stolen by Ionel Stoian during targeted raids in 2020.

Stoian, aged 51, was part of a criminal gang which broke into branches in Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells, and in Fougeres Way, Ashford.

The organised criminals forced entry to the Tunbridge Wells store at 1.50am on September 15, 2020, when about 100 items were stolen, with a value of almost £50,000.

A hole was cut into a window at the Ashford site during the early hours of October 24 and electrical goods worth at least £25,000 were stolen.

A police investigation found a black Ford Focus had been seen close to both stores during the burglaries and was found to be insured to Stoian.

It was also revealed it had been used to travel to both the Kent stores, from his home in Thruxton Road, Havant, Hampshire.

Forensic evidence was also uncovered after a sample of Stoian’s blood was recovered from a laptop lead at the Ashford crime scene.

Stoian was arrested on February 1 this year, along with Nicusor Olteanu, aged 31, of Lumsden Road, Southsea, Hampshire.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Stoian pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and on August 2 he was sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment.

Olteanu had previous admitted a charge of handling stolen goods and received a fine of £250.

DC Billie-Louise Mills, who led the investigation, said: "Stoian was part of an organised crime group which we believe were also responsible for a series of other commercial burglaries in Kent and outside the county.

"They came equipped with tools to enter each premises and carried bags to remove as many goods as they could carry.

"The crimes involved a significant degree of planning and organisation and there is no doubt Stoian would have continued to offend had he not been caught."

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