Student thief avoids jail

4:32pm Sunday 26th August 2007

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A student at Oxford Brookes university became a 'professional thief,' commuting to London to target city brokers and tourists.

Othman El Ouarti, 27, of Empress Court, Woodin's Way, Oxford, admitted three counts of theft when he appeared at the Old Bailey.

But the English literature graduate, who had completed one term of a masters degree at Oxford Brookes, avoided jail after he was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years. Recorder Peter Clarke told the Moroccan: "You are an extremely professional thief."

The court heard that El Ouarti worked by dropping his coat over a woman's handbag and taking it while he distracted her.

Prosecutor Atta Chisti said El Ouarti, who has convictions for theft and handling stolen goods, carried out a series of thefts, including grabbing a bag containing 1,000 euros (£600), ID cards, a Nokia phone, a Panasonic digital camera which included the victim's holiday snaps, and £90 in cash from the Yo Sushi bar in St Paul's Churchyard.

Emily Durston, defending, said El Ouarti, who the court was told is now working as a food service adviser at Debenhams in Oxford, had been taught how to steal by two friends. She said he was desperate to raise funds for his sick father, who was undergoing major surgery in his homeland.

But the judge said: "I hardly believe a word I have been told. I believe you are an extremely devious, dishonest individual and have no faith whatsoever in your ability to stop stealing other people's property."

The judge said he had considered recommending that El Ouarti be deported, but decided against it.

El Ouarti was told he would face six months behind bars, plus a further 18 months, if he was caught stealing again.