SLEIGHT-of-hand thieves who travelled to target tills at two Cardigan businesses have been jailed.

Bobi Anghel and Radu Mutean, both aged 20 and of Rotherham, appeared from custody at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Speaking via a Romanian interpreter, the pair stated that they apologised unreservedly as they admitted jointly stealing £150 cash from a local garage on June 22.

Mutean, of Milton Road, also pleaded guilty to stealing £30 from a Cardigan filling station on the same day.

Abul Hussain, prosecuting, told the bench that the offences were ‘pre-planned and deliberate’, before explaining how the men reached into the tills while creating confusion over changing notes.

The first cashier checked his till after the men left because he felt uncomfortable about the exchange and found that £30 was missing.

The pair then moved on to OC Davies, Penparc, where Anghel asked for £20 to be changed into £10 notes, then changed his mind several times before asking for £60 in loose change. At one point he reached into the till to replace £10 notes.

The till was found to be missing two rolls of £5 notes when Anghel and Mutean left, and the cashier ran after them to ask for the money back.

One bundle was handed over, but Angel, of Lilian Street, denied taking the other and threatened to smash the store manager’s phone when she took a photograph of the suspects.

A total of £150 was found to be missing, and the men were stopped in Crymych after police were contacted.

Mr Hussain said: “This is what the defendants do. They target small premises such as filling stations or newsagents where there are not many members of staff.

“It seems their modus operandi is to cause confusion so that the person does not know how much they have been given or given back.”

He added: “Money is handed over sleight-of-hand, and amounts are removed without the attendant noticing.”

The court heard that Anghel had a previous conviction for similar offences in Pembrokeshire last year.

Mr Hussain added that the filling station staff member had been shocked, frightened and distressed by the incident.

Tom Lloyd, defending, stated both men felt terrible and were genuinely remorseful for their actions, adding they had worked in various low paid jobs to support family members since living in the UK.

“They are extremely sorry for what they have done. They understand the impact it could have on those involved and say they will not do it again.”

Magistrates sentenced Anghel to 16 weeks in prison and Mutean to 12 weeks. Both were ordered to pay a £115 court charge, £85 costs, compensation for the amounts taken and Mutean was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the distressed member of staff.

The chairman of the bench said: “Because of the degree or planning and deliberate targeting of businesses, this has passed the custody threshold.”