Romanian thief jailed for swiping £10,000 of perfume from Boots

A Romanian thief who has been convicted of shoplifting in five different European countries has been jailed in the UK after he stole £10,000 worth of perfume in a single raid.

Ionel Dulea, 47, stole almost £25,000 worth of beauty products from Boots stores across Hampshire over a five-month period, including skincare, cosmetics, perfumes and smoking items, a court heard. 

In a single hit, on July 20, Dulea 'literally shovelled' a staggering £10,790 of skincare and perfume bottles from a store in Fareham — and admitted he was stunned by the value of it all.

Dulea has been convicted of similar offences in France, Norway, Germany and Spain, as well as his home country of Romania, where his wife and two children live.

He has now been jailed for two years at Winchester Crown Court and warned he may be deported. 

Dulea shoplifted from five different Boots stores which stretch 72 miles across the South of England between March 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024.

Prosecutor Luisa Rose said that of the spread of shops chosen: 'It shows some planning and targeting of these Boots stores.'

On some occasions Dulea would work with others to shoplift, but he mostly carried out his thefts alone. 

'There's evidence that he is taking a leading role by virtue of the fact he's the common denominator in these proceedings,' Ms Rose said.

Speaking about the £10,790 perfume theft, Ms Knight said: 'He had no idea they had literally shovelled, with their arms, products into a large bag.' 

Ms Knight said: 'He really did have no idea that the figures had gone up to such high proportions.' 

She said he sent 'at least half' of the money he obtained from the shoplifting spree back to his family in Romania.

She added: 'The defendant is now 47 years of age and your honour should know he has two children and a wife and the money he has been able to raise from the shoplifting spree - at least half of it has been sent straight back to support his family.

'He lost his job, he was working in a car wash, having come to this country in 2020.

'He lost his job earlier in the year.'

Dulea admitted nine counts of theft from a shop.

Judge Richard Tutt said there was no realistic prospect of rehabilitation for Dulea, who was previously convicted of shoplifting in Chichester, West Sussex, in 2020 and in Hampshire in 2021 and 2022.

His offending dates back to 2001, when he was first sent to prison for theft in his home country of Romania.

He has had 11 convictions for 12 offences since then.

Judge Tutt said: 'During the period of just over five months you were involved in a campaign of shoplifting.

'You, together with others, were essentially professional thieves.

'You made it your work.

'The total value of goods stolen was £24,720.'

The judge said Dulea will spend one year in custody, followed by a year out on a licence.

Judge Tutt said that this sentence puts Dulea at risk of deportation.