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 ofLondon.
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 the police in recovering the stolen alcohol.
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He has until 3 November to return the stolen bottles.
The court heard that some of the stolen goods were found when Kubola, from Islington, was arrested riding a pedicab in the city in June.
Prosecutor Matthew Jolliffe said Kubola broke into Comptoir Café andWinein 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 hiscrimebut at two different restaurants – Oliveto on Elizabeth Street and Olivo on Eccleston Street, both in Belgravia – on May 13 and June 8 respectively.
Kubola also hit Piazzaa Italiana on Threadneedle Street in the City of London three times.
He stole 73 bottles of wine from Piazzaa 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.
Kubola was finally arrested on June 22 while riding the tuk-tuk on Cornhill in the City of London.
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.
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.’
The prosecution has 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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