Gang sentenced to over 22 years in jail for 'heartbreaking' lead thefts from 36 churches

Four men have been jailed for a combined 22 years and seven months after stealing lead from churches across the country, including six in Yorkshire.
Laurentiu Sucea, 38, of George Street, Birmingham was jailed for  six and a half yearsLaurentiu Sucea, 38, of George Street, Birmingham was jailed for  six and a half years
Laurentiu Sucea, 38, of George Street, Birmingham was jailed for six and a half years

The four travelled the length and breadth of the country to strip tonnes of lead from Grade 1 and Grade 2 churches between May 2018 and March 2020.

It cost the 36 churches a total of almost £2.1m - although police say the amount the thieves would have made from scrapping the metal would have been far less.

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They targeted churches as far afield as Dorset, Wiltshire, Suffolk and Lincolnshire as well as six in East Yorkshire: St Lawrence Church, Sigglesthorne; St Mary's Church, Lockington; St Peter's Church, Langtoft; St Peter's Church, Wawne; St Peter's Church, Hutton and St John's Church, Harpham.

St Peter's Church in Wawne near Hull was among those targeted by thievesSt Peter's Church in Wawne near Hull was among those targeted by thieves
St Peter's Church in Wawne near Hull was among those targeted by thieves

The four were sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to a total of 36 offences.

Constantin Motescu, 32, of Stebbings, Sutton Hill, Telford, who admitted 23 charges of theft and Laurentiu Sucea, 38, of George Street, Birmingham, who admitted 13 thefts, were each jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Paul Buica, 25, of George Street, Birmingham, who admitted 16 thefts, was jailed for six years.

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Mihai Birtu, 24, of Port Street, Evesham, admitted 14 thefts and was put behind bars for three years and seven months.

Lead thieves Mihai Birtu, 24, and Paul Buica, 25,Lead thieves Mihai Birtu, 24, and Paul Buica, 25,
Lead thieves Mihai Birtu, 24, and Paul Buica, 25,

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Shield, of Lincolnshire Police, which led the investigation, said congregations were still struggling to find the funds to repair the damage.

He said: "The impact of these offences goes well beyond the significant financial cost. Communities have felt a great sense of loss at the damage caused to their heritage, and increased vulnerability due to the rural nature of many of the premises.

“It is still unclear what these defendants spent the money they gained from these thefts on and investigations into this is still ongoing.

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“Some of the buildings are thousands of years old so these men have potentially destroyed hundreds of years of our heritage.”

Constantin Motescu, 32, of Stebbings, Sutton Hill, Telford, admitted 23 charges of theftConstantin Motescu, 32, of Stebbings, Sutton Hill, Telford, admitted 23 charges of theft
Constantin Motescu, 32, of Stebbings, Sutton Hill, Telford, admitted 23 charges of theft

Humberside Police’s Heritage Crime Officer Rich Fussey added: “The impact the thefts on six of our local churches was heart-breaking for the local residents.

“The loss to the churches involved in our region and across the country is enormous, not just in the material cost but in the impact on the local communities and congregations."