A MOTHER and daughter who stole jewellery from a York shop have been jailed.

Firuta Rostas, 53, and Anca Sava, 27, persuaded staff at Harpers jewellers, in Minster Gates, to let them into the locked shop by posing as genuine customers, Stephanie Hancock told York Crown Court. They tried on various items from the window display and left without buying anything.

Staff realised almost immediately that the women had stolen a platinum diamond ring and a gold necklace, together worth £5,000, and alerted police.

Officers arrested the pair strolling through the city centre 45 minutes later – but not before they had disposed of the stolen jewellery. They claimed they had acted on impulse.

But Judge Shaun Spencer QC disagreed. He said: “This was a planned expedition, the object of which was to steal high-value goods.

“When you were arrested, less than an hour later in the city centre, these items of jewellery were missing.

“You had either hidden them somewhere or handed them over to some confederate.”

Rostas was jailed for 12 months and Sava for six months. The women, of Fieldhead Road, Lowfield, Sheffield, and pleaded guilty to theft. Rostas received a longer sentence because she had involved her daughter.

Their native country of Romania has issued a European warrant for the arrest of Rostas on suspicion of forgery and other offences.

The warrant was served on her by North Yorkshire Police and she is currently on bail with a surety of £4,000 to City of Westminster magistrates.

Mrs Hancock said Rostas had been jailed for previous thefts in Maidstone, Croydon and elsewhere.

Jim Withyman, representing both women, said they had gone on a shopping trip to York and had intended to pay.

Rostas suffered from heart problems and high blood pressure. Sava had never been in prison before.

“This offence wasn’t planned, it was impulsive,” said Mr Withyman.

“She greatly regrets what she has done.”