A COUPLE took part in the distraction theft of an elderly woman’s handbag, before using her bank card to withdraw hundreds of pounds.

Andrei and Gabriela Olaru targeted an 82-year-old victim as she shopped in a store in Bishop Auckland.

Durham Crown Court heard she was asked where an item was displayed by a ‘customer’, but later discovered her bag was missing.

Ian West, prosecuting, said the Olarus, and co-accused Lucian Letcanu, all of Romanian background, “operated as a team”.

“Two distract the elderly lady while the other stole her handbag, and within a short time withdrawals are being made round the corner, using her bank card.”

They withdrew £570, but after failing to use the card again, at Durham Services, near Bowburn, the following day, all three were arrested after their car was stopped by police on the A1(M).

Andrei Olaru, 39, and 27-year-old Gabriela Olaru, both of Thorntree Gardens, Middlesbrough, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Jailing both for two years, Judge Christopher Prince added 16 weeks to Andrei Olaru’s sentence for a similar offence in London, when he was using the alias of Dimitru Maxim.

A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Letcanu, from Manchester, after he failed to appear at a previous hearing.