Cousins sentenced for robbing Vodafone in Marlborough

Becam (left) and Emanuel (right) Radu have received custodial sentences today.

Two men have been sentenced for robbing £20k worth of phones from Vodafone in Marlborough last December.

Becam Radu, 21, of Orchard Road, Enfield, and Emanuel Radu, 19, of Nash Road, Edmonton, were sentenced at Swindon Crown Court today (07/03).

The cousins stormed Vodafone, in High Street, wearing balaclavas and threatened staff with violence before stealing the shop's entire stock - including several dummy phones which acted as tracking devices.

We arrested the suspects on the A338 at 4.20pm on December 12, just 20 minutes after the incident was reported to 999.

Both were arrested on suspicion of robbery and Emanuel Radu was further arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Today, he was sentenced to two years and 10 months in a young offender institution.

Becam Radu was sentenced to 28 months in a young offender institution.

One shop worker said the fear he felt was "incredibly hard to describe", adding: "I have been in some situations which have scared me in the past but that was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me in my whole 22 years of life.

"The incident has not left me almost three months on. The impact has been huge from a physiological point of view and is not something that I ever see going away.

"The behaviour of these two individuals is absolutely disgraceful."

Detective Constable Michael Land, from Wiltshire's Criminal Investigation Department, said: "Thankfully, no one was physically harmed during Becam and Emanuel Radu's brazen thievery.

"I would like to commend all the victims and witnesses who were involved in this traumatic experience, particularly the shop workers whose quick thinking protected their customers and enabled us to swiftly apprehend both men.

"This result demonstrates that Wiltshire is a hostile place for London-based criminals and robust action will be taken to protect our communities."