Moldovian man admits cash point scam (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Moldovian man admits cash point scam

A MOLDOVIAN man has admitted plotting to steal from a cashpoint in Cirencester by using sophisticated electronic gadgetry.

But a second Moldovian, who denied involvement in the theft, was cleared by the Gloucester Crown Court jury after the judge ruled he had no case to answer.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC congratulated Tesco worker Timothy Rees and store security officer Brian Long for bringing Gabriel Leonte, 18, of Crown Walk, London to justice.

Both he and the cleared defendant Bogdan Royscowsky, 23, of Raibon Road, London, are now set to be deported.

Each pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiring to steal money from an ATM machine in Farrell Close between April 16 and 23.

Leonte also pleaded not guilty to a second allegation of stealing a cash card belonging to Russell Bowen.

But with the trial of the men about to get under way Leonte changed his plea for the conspiracy charge to guilty.

His denial of the second charge was accepted by the prosecution and he was remanded in custody until September 17 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

In the trial of Royscowsky, prosecutor Adrian Maxwell told the court the two Moldovans had been seen near the cashpoint at Tesco on April 22 at about 8pm.

Mr Rees, who works at the store, went out to use the machine and saw something "a bit odd" and alerted Mr Long.

Mr Maxwell said the two Tesco workers approached the defendants who fled the scene. They were arrested soon after and taken to Cirencester Police Station.

He added: "When interviewed, Mr Royscowsky said he didn't know what was happening and when his friend started to run he ran as well."

The two witnesses told the court they had seen a plastic strip attached to the cashpoint machine which was removed by one of the two defendants before they ran off.

Mr Maxwell told the jury that when arrested later Royscowsky said he had travelled to Cirencester with Leonte and another man but knew nothing of the scam and was not involved.

Eric Waley, defending Royscowsky, said he had no case to answer as there was no evidence of him tampering with the machine or removing the plastic strip.

Mr Maxwell argued that the fact that Royscowsky ran off when challenged was evidence against him.

But Judge Tabor upheld the defence submission and instructed the jury to find Royscowsky not guilty.

The judge was then told that - like Leonte - Royscowsky is unlawfully in this country and is facing deportation. He said: "We all want him to go home."