TukTuk driver has two weeks to return £24,000 stolen wine to police

A tuk-tuk driver who stole more than £24,000 of fine wine and champagne from restaurants has been given the chance to return the booze before he is sentenced.

Iuliu Kubola, 61, faces jail after admitting to six burglaries at restaurants in Mayfair, Belgravia, and the City of London.

He was caught on camera rummaging through wine cellars before using a wheelie bin to get away with the expensive booze.

When police asked Kubola what he intended to do with the wine he replied: ‘The wine is to drink, no?’

His sentencing at the Old Bailey was delayed on Tuesday by Judge Mark Lucraft KC, allowing Kubola time to assist police in recovering the stolen alcohol.

He has until 3 November to return the stolen bottles.

The court heard that some of the stolen goods were found when Kubola was arrested riding a pedicab in the city in June.

Prosecutor Matthew Jolliffe said Kubola broke into Comptoir Café and Wine in Mayfair in the early hours of May 1, stealing several bottles of wine worth £6,000 and £200 in cash from the till.

During his first theft, he caused damage to an external door and locks. It cost the company £1,000 to change the locks and £425 to repair the door.

He repeated his crime but at two different restaurants – Oliveto and Olivo on Elizabeth Street, Belgravia – on May 13 and June 8.

Kubola, from Islington, also hit Piazaa Italiana on Threadneedle Street, city of London, three times.

He stole 73 bottles of wine from Piazaa Italiana before loading it onto his pedicab and cycling away. He used a wheelie bin to move the wine from the cellar to his getaway vehicle.

On June 15, he was caught on CCTV at the restaurant a second time where he stole three more bottles and £55 from the till.

Four days later, he broke into the property again but left without taking anything after the alarm sounded.

While riding the tuk-tuk in Cornhill in the City of London, he was arrested on June 22.

A bottle of Villa Bucci wine, a bottle of Laurent-Perrier champagne, a bottle of Jack Daniels, a half-empty bottle of Shaw and Smith chardonnay, and a bottle of vodka were all found on him at the time of his arrest.

Other items seized included a spanner, pliers, screwdrivers, three crowbars and an angle grinder.

In mitigation, defence barrister Daisy Kell-Jones said that the defendant had previously worked at Oliveto and Piazza Italiana restaurants.

She told the court: ‘He was effectively not paid and he made the reckless and stupid decision, rather than confronting the owners of these restaurants and asking for his salary, effectively decided to go in and take the salary for himself.’

Mr Jolliffe applied for a compensation order for more than £31,000 on behalf of the restaurant to cover the stolen goods and damage caused by Kubola.

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