A Romanian man stole over £700 worth of goods from a Dundee supermarket in a bid to send money home to pay for his child’s hospital treatment.
Robert Dragomir (36), of Calder Street, Glasgow, admitted at Dundee Sheriff Court to stealing a quantity of meat and alcohol at Asda Milton of Craigie on August 3, while on bail
Depute Fiscal Emma Stewart told the court the value of the items stolen was £761.93 but there was full recovery.
An agent for Dragomir said her client had a good work ethic and had travelled to Scotland to find work.
She said: ”He is married and his wife and four children remain in Romania.
”For the last eight years he has been employed in France, where he is employed in the construction industry.”
She said Dragomir had sent money home from France but owing to the dip in the French economy he had moved to Scotland a number of weeks ago to stay with a family of Romanians in Glasgow.
She said: ”He had hoped to gain employment in the construction industry but to date hasn’t been able to.
”One of his children was involved three weeks ago in a road traffic accident and is in hospital with injuries to his legs.”
She said as Romania does not have a national health service ”money talks” and Dragomir had sent £200 home to help with the hospital care.
”His wife contacted him and asked him to send more money,” she said.
”He went to Perth where he had been promised a job.
”It didn’t come off so in desperation he drove to Dundee with the intention of shoplifting goods.”
Dragomir’s case was complicated by the fact he had been released from Edinburgh Sheriff Court only days earlier on another charge of shoplifting. Sheriff George Way said given the previous offence he had no choice but to call for reports and remand Dragomir in the meantime.
He said: ”There has to be punishment and it needs to be made clear if you are given a chance by a judge you don’t just shift location.”
He deferred sentence to August 29.