Ilford painter and decorator jailed for eight months for public transport thefts

A 40-year-old painter and decorator from Ilford who is addicted to heroin was jailed for thefts on public transport yesterday.

Polish-born Marek Mikolajek, of Agnes Avenue, Ilford, pleaded guilty at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court to two counts of theft and one of failure to attend a drug assessment.

The court heard that Mr Mikolajek stole a purse containing �75 from a young mother with her two children on a bus in London Road, Barking, on January 21.

As a result, on leaving the bus, she had to make arrangements for her and her children to be picked up and it took them 45 minutes to get home.

On January 13, he stole an iPhone 4, valued at �500, from a woman on a 147 bus between Barking and Ilford.

His offences were ”particularly mean ones”, said District Judge Radway.

Ms Matin, defending, said Mr Mikolajek came to the UK two years ago but had since become addicted to heroin and crack cocaine.

She said the defendant wanted to resume his relationship with his girlfriend, who is not a drug user, and become drug free himself.

She said: “He is remorseful for his actions.”

Following both thefts, he was identified on CCTV.

He had also failed to attend an assessment to establish whether he was addicted to heroin.

He was sentenced to six months for stealing last year.

Mr Radway said: “Stealing people’s property who are on public transport is a serious matter.

“A young woman was with her two children in the cold and she couldn’t quickly get home.”

Mr Mikolajek was sentenced to eight months in total – four months for each charge of theft – less six days already spent in custody.

He was sentenced to one month for failure to attend to be served concurrently.