Burglar faces deportation after Boxing Day Evesham raids

Vasile Sarban raided a home in Callow End, near Worcester and went on to attack three more homes in Evesham, claiming he needed cash to fund medication and possible surgery for his sick child in Romania who suffers from 'liver and kidney difficulties'.

The 56-year-old appeared over a video link from HMP Huntercombe at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday where he was jailed for a year for four burglaries, three of them taking place on the same side of the same street on December 26, 2017.

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One couple in their 70s said they were no longer felt safe after they disturbed Sarban in the act of burgling their home and making off with precious family heirlooms.

The details of the raids were relayed to Sarban through a Romanian interpreter. The first burglary happened on an unoccupied in Upton Road, Callow End on November 8, 2017, Sarban breaking in through the front lounge window before beginning 'an untidy search'.

Joshua Purser, prosecuting, said: "A number of items of paper were removed from the desk and drawer and discarded on the floor. Nothing was, however, taken from this address" said Mr Purser.

However, Sarban left a button from his clothes which was seized by scenes of crime officers and forensically analysed although, at that stage no matches were found with this defendant until he was connected to it via later offences.

On Boxing Day, 2017 Sarban burgled three homes on School Road in Evesham.

During one burglary the occupier was out, Sarban gaining entry to the upper floor through a rear window and again carrying out an untidy search with the owners returning to find clothing and papers 'strewn on the floor'.

Sarban stole two gold sovereign coins with a value of £80, a metal watch, a vintage bottle of whisky valued at £150 and a number of 'children's trinkets'. Sarban then broke into another home on the same side of the street, again vacant at the time.

"It could be described as a campaign of burglary on the same road" said Mr Purser.

Sarban gained entry to a top floor landing window using a ladder from the garage, stealing cufflinks valued at £200 and a commemorative item given to the victim by a lord mayor.

The owners were at home during the third burglary, again on the same side of the road, when a man heard a disturbance upstairs at about 7.30pm, went to investigate and 'found the defendant making his escape from the bedroom window onto the roof'.

The victim found the results of an untidy search and noticed £350 had been stolen together with a number of items of jewellery, watches including a Rolex, a nine caret signet ring and a nine caret wedding band.

He ran after the defendant and saw 'two males running away down the street'. A cream-coloured plastic carrier bag was left at the scene which contained the vintage whisky stolen earlier from another home on the street. A crowbar was also left behind which the prosecutor said was evidence Sarban was 'equipped for burglary'.

In a victim personal statement the homeowner, aged in his 70s, said: "I feel like my personal space has been invaded. Myself and my wife feel ill, frightened and angered by this. We do not feel safe in our property and the items stolen were of great sentimental value as they were gifts and inherited from relatives. The fact we were in the house makes it more terrifying."

Sarban has convictions for dishonesty offences in Romania from 1992 and was also jailed for 26 months at Stafford Crown Court in March last year for three other burglaries, also in 2017.

Stephen Nelson, defending, said: "He anticipates a probable early return to Romania whether voluntarily or by way of deportation. He wishes, in any event, to return to his family." Judge Jim Tindal jailed Sarban for 12 months. Before these matters the serving prisoner had been due for release on February 23 this year.