Man who stole £18k of champagne and spirits across five counties jailed

Laurentiu Stroe was jailed after admitting stealing alcohol worth £18,000

A man who stole £18,000 worth of Champagne and spirits from supermarkets across five counties has been jailed.

Laurentiu Stroe, 23, of HMP Chelmsford, was arrested by Essex Police over six high-value thefts in February.

He was part of an organised group stealing alcohol from supermarkets in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire, said Norfolk Police .

He was jailed for eight months at Basildon Magistrates' Court on March 30.

While on remand awaiting sentence for the six thefts he admitted a further 15 offences.

Officers said the group filled trolleys with bottles, de-tagged them in quiet aisles and made multiple trips to conceal and carry them out.