Asylum seekers shoplifted luxury items as claims processed by Home Office

Two asylum seekers who were waiting for their claims to be processed by the Home Office have been caught shoplifting luxury goods.

Frans Epentrius, 29, and Tobias Iileka, 33, were spotted by staff in John Lewis, Bluewater on December 23 as they attempted to make off with designer items.

Staff noticed the pair acting suspiciously as Epentrius attempted to disguise a £550 Coach bag in a brown paper bag, which the pair attempted to discard as staff swooped to detain them.

Prosecutor Lauren Kenny told Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court: “They refused to wait for the police and they both ran off but were subsequently caught and taken to North Kent police station,” Kent Online reports.

Iileka, who was found in possession of a pair of wire cutters, admitted shoplifting other items from John Lewis during an earlier visit, which he said had been done to buy food and clothes.

The court heard how Iileka, from Crawley, was given a list of desirable items to steal which included designer goods including handbags, sunglasses and perfumes.

He was charged with stealing items worth £1,356 from the Bluewater’s John Lewis outlet on December 4.

He was given an additional charge of going equipped for theft by carrying wire cutters during the foiled shoplifting attempt on December 23.

His accomplice Epentrius from St Leonards, East Sussex, was charged with attempted shoplifting that took place on December 23.

The court was told that he had two convictions for seven previous, unrelated offences.

Simon Patrick Pettican, representing Epentrius, told the court how his client’s family were in Africa and were waiting for the outcome of his asylum application.

He told the court: “He is an asylum seeker at the moment and his claim is currently being processed. He has an excess alcohol (conviction) on file and he’s not working at the moment.

“He was getting cash from the Salvation Army but that has stopped and the friend he lives with is supporting him now.

“It was a shot at getting some money (the thieving) and he has £419 outstanding on his fine’s account and that was for train evasion (not paying for the fare),” reported Kent Online

Epentrius was given a 12-month community order, with a requirement to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.

Iileka was put on a high-level community order for 18 months for his two offences and ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

Iileka was not ordered to pay compensation for the items stolen on December 4, because of his lack of means.