Bury St Edmunds carer jailed for string of thefts

He pleaded guilty

Author: Sharon PlummerPublished 18th Sep 2021

A man from Bury St Edmunds has been jailed for over two years, after pleading guilty to a string of theft offences in the town.

Claudiu Stupinean, who's 29 and from Pound Meadow, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court this week, where he was sentenced to 28 months in prison.

Claudiu Stupinean

He was initially arrested on 8 September last year, on suspicion of theft and following police enquiries, he was charged on 23 April 2021 with various offences that all took place in the Bury St Edmunds area.

He was charged with three counts of theft of a motor vehicle, one count of burglary after a painting was stolen, two counts of theft of car keys, one count of theft of military memorabilia, one count of theft of parcels from Amazon, one count of theft of a wedding ring and one of theft of a letter opener.

A search of his vehicle recovered various items of suspected stolen property including jewellery, numerous world war two medals and tie pin badges relating to Normandy war veterans. One of the victims was a 100-year-old man.

Police enquiries established that Stupinean had committed the offences from 30 July 2020 until 15 September 2020. Of the offences he was charged with, five victims were elderly.

Investigating officer PC Lisa Yorke said: "Stupinean started work with a care company in late July last year and exploited and preyed on the vulnerable in their properties, some of whom have now sadly passed away.

"These were people who entrusted him for their care and wellbeing but exploited this trust for his own selfish ends. This sentence handed down reflects the seriousness nature of this type of offence and demonstrates that the targeting of vulnerable victims in society will not be tolerated by the courts or the police.”

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