Two Romanian nationals have been handed significant prison sentences for embarking on a destructive burglary spree across northern England, striking within a day of their arrival in the United Kingdom.
A Swift Descent into Crime
Ion Zaharia, 44, and Samir Barbulesteanu, 23, travelled to England on October 28 last year, entering via the Harwich sea port in Essex. Prosecutors told Liverpool Crown Court that the pair, along with a third unidentified male, began their crime wave "almost immediately" after arrival.
They used a Citroen C4 with French licence plates to travel between target areas, committing a series of break-ins in Warrington and Scarborough over a two-week period before their arrest.
Trail of Destruction and Distress
The first reported incident occurred on October 29 at a home on Mill Lane in Great Sankey. The victim returned to find her daughter's bedroom window smashed, with clear marks on the frame indicating a forced entry attempt.
That same night, the burglars targeted a house in Rainhill where an elderly woman was asleep. She awoke to find her conservatory doors smashed. Although nothing was taken, she stated the intrusion left her "very shaken" and feeling unsafe in her own home.
A particularly distressing break-in happened on October 30 at a property on Liberty Close, Great Sankey. A family returning from holiday discovered their home had been ransacked. Prosecutor Nick Cockerill described how children's bedrooms were subjected to an "untidy search".
Intruders stole jewellery belonging to the victim's late brother and approximately £1,500 in cash, including £40 taken from a child's money box. The burglars caused extensive damage, ripping wardrobe doors from hinges, cracking iPads, and leaving shattered glass trodden into carpets.
Apprehension and Sentencing
The men were identified via Ring doorbell footage and were arrested at Birmingham Airport on November 9, 2025. Zaharia was found in possession of jewellery and £490 in cash.
Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. The court heard Zaharia had an extensive criminal record across France, Romania, and Austria, while Barbulesteanu had no previous convictions.
In mitigation, defence lawyers cited the defendants' difficult lives in Romania and their family responsibilities. However, Judge Gary Woodhall emphasised the profound impact on victims, stating burglary "undermines" the safety of one's home.
Judge Woodhall sentenced Zaharia to four years and three months in prison and Barbulesteanu to three years and six months. He confirmed the expectation that both would be deported upon release, rather than being allowed to remain in the UK community.
