A MAN has claimed he travelled from London to steal a £30 T-shirt from Worcester.

Andrei Zalaru, of Penine Drive, London, was caught with a foil-lined bag, containing £492 on Thursday, February 3.

He pleaded guilty to going equipped to steal when he appeared at Worcester Mag-istrates Court.

Sarah Stock, prosecuting, said an officer on patrol in the city centre was made aware of a group of four people – two men and two women – of eastern European origin acting suspiciously in House of Fraser, Crowngate.

The officer noted Zalaru, aged 25, had a large bag, which was later discovered to be lined with foil – a trick used by shoplifters to prevent shop alarms going off – and containing £492.

Zalaru was arrested and when interviewed he told police he had travelled alone from London to Worcester with the bag to steal one £30 T-shirt. He admitted he had bought the bag for £5, but would not say from whom.

He said the money was his earnings from busking in London. Police then noted the clothes he was wearing matched those stolen by a group of Romanians who have been travelling around the country with foil bags stealing designer clothes.

Judith Kenney, defending, said her client played the saxophone around London, but in Romania he was working towards becoming an accountant. Ms Kenney said: “He got on the train in London and ended up here. He accepts he had a large foil-lined bag and accepts he intended to steal with it.

“He tells me he did not do it because he was scared and changed his mind. He was only stopped because he was acting suspiciously.”

She said the money in the bag was all his savings.

Magistrates fined Zalaru £100, ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The bench also ordered the destruction of the bag.