A MAN who stole thousands from a cash machine has been jailed after going on the run for four years.

Riva Lecussanu was caught 'red handed' with two other men stealing money from the ATM at Tesco in Bursledon.

The trio had been spotted tampering with the machine, coming and going multiple times before police officers arrived. The three were then arrested and were found to have around £3,500 between them.

Southampton Crown Court was told he was later charged and released on bail. But a warrant was issued for Lecussanu’s arrest in September 2019 when he failed to appear at the magistrates' court.

But almost four years to the day of the Bursledon incident in October 2018, the 47-year-old of Stratford, London was caught again, this time in Bideford, North Devon.

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Prosecuting, Michael Forster told the court that he had again been caught with others, trying to take money from an ATM.

The group had tried to use a drill to break into an ATM at an Asda store in Bideford.

No cash was taken on this occasion however and when police arrived, Lecussanu was arrested again and hauled back to Southampton to face justice.

He attended the crown court on Thursday after admitting fraud, possession of criminal property and two attempted thefts.

Mr Forster added that the 47-year-old had a “sophisticated method” to obtain money from the machines, using multiple tools including fake cards and a claw device to take money.

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But mitigating, Jamie Gammon said it was “very clear that it is not his idea”.

He added: “[He is] not a person that has made any significant gains from this activity.”

Construction worker Lecussanu, who is originally from Romania, also has previous convictions for offences of dishonesty, and for theft and fraud in Romania and Austria.

Mr Gammon accepted that “custody is inevitable” and that he “knows he has got to take his punishment”.

Judge Christopher Parker KC said how he had been caught “pretty much red-handed in the act” on both occasions.

He jailed him for a total of 28 months adding: “The likelihood is that you will be deported as soon as possible but that is a matter for the home office.”

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