A man who went on a cross-country crime spree just days after arriving in the UK will be deported to Romania after serving his prison sentence.
Andrei Matei, 35, admitted to stealing money from ATMs and causing thousands of pounds in damages. He was sentenced to 27 months in prison at Leeds Crown Court on February 26, and will be deported immediately after serving his time.
Matei committed his first theft on August 9, 2023, just two days after arriving in the UK from Romania. He and an accomplice used a special tool to jam ATM dispensers and steal cash from inside. Over the next few weeks, they targeted cash machines in London, Wiltshire, Berkshire, West Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire, taking a total of around £19,000 and causing over £35,000 in damages.
He was arrested by authorities in West Yorkshire on September 1, after an investigation led by West Yorkshire Police and the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit. CCTV footage from petrol stations and supermarkets across the UK revealed the full scale of the crime spree.
In court, Matei pleaded guilty to 483 counts of ATM theft and criminal damage. His lawyer, Felicity Hemlin, said this was his first time in custody and that he admitted to his crimes without making any excuses. She told the court, “He hasn’t asked me to make any personal plea on his behalf. He says he has done wrong and deserves his punishment. He will serve his time and be deported immediately.”
Judge Stubbs told Matei that he believed the Romanian had come to the UK specifically to commit crimes. “Less than 24 hours after arriving here, you traveled across the country targeting cash machines,” the judge said. “This was a successful, sophisticated, and professional crime. You must receive a sentence that reflects that.”
