TWO members of a shoplifting gang who travelled across the Pennines to raid York stores have been banned from the city centre for two years.

York Magistrates Court heard that the man and woman from Oldham were among four people who took more than £1,200 worth of clothes from T M Lewin's store in St Sampson's Square on March 28.

Two of the gang distracted the shop's staff by trying on clothes while the other two took items from the displays.

The woman, Ana Marie Lefter, 27, and the man, Marian Irimia, 30, both of Lune Street, Oldham, pleaded guilty to theft.

District judge Adrian Lower said: "I take a dim view of people who come into York to go stealing.

Both were given a community order including an exclusion order banning them from going within York city walls for two years and 200 hours' unpaid work. They were each also ordered to pay a £60 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Two other men are wanted on warrant after they failed to attend York Magistrates Court in April.
Ionut Bogden Nicolau, 25, and Lucian Ionut Ivan, 27, both of Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, are jointly charged with Lefter and Irima.