A MAN jailed for theft in Romania led a children’s gang on a North Yorkshire shop raid after emigrating to the UK, York Crown Court heard.

York Crown Court heard Pardalian Chiscaru, 46, was at the head of the gang as it smashed its way into a Harrogate shop just before midnight on October 30 and got away with mobile phones worth £2,638

A youth court heard claims the five youngsters involved were victims of modern slavery.

Andrew Stranex, prosecuting at the adult court, said the actions of the six, all in dark clothing, were caught on live CCTV and police gave chase as the gang fled in a Renault Clio along the A61.

When they stopped the car and fled on foot, police dog Bobby took up the pursuit and all six were captured, including Chiscaru, who lost a shoe as he ran across fields.

He told police he went on the raid because he “was the adult”.

He also said he had served prison sentences in Rumania for theft.

Chiscaru, of Ancona Road, London, pleaded guilty to burglary and was jailed for 16 months.

“But for police dog Bobby you would still be running,” Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told him. “For this kind of criminal enterprise where organised gangs roam around the country smashing up shops in this manner, the appropriate punishment can only be met by an immediate custodial sentence.”

Mr Stranex said the five youngsters, aged 15 to 17, were sent before a youth court where because of “concerns relating to modern slavery” and other difficulties, the CPS dropped all charges against them.

For Chiscaru, Keith Whitehouse said he was an “economic migrant” who had brought his family to the UK where he had lived for five years crime free. He had been in Leeds to see a relative when in a pub popular with Romanians he had taken a “leading role” as the plot to carry out the burglary was hatched.

He was short of money because he only had sporadic work at a scrap metal business.