The leaders of a high-tech shoplifting gang who stole almost £50,000 worth of expensive bottles of spirits from supermarkets in Devon and Cornwall have been jailed. 

 Marian Stoica and Robert Matei targeted stores in towns across the two counties including Exmouth and Seaton. 

They used special tools to remove security tags and worked with up to four other Romanians to distract security staff as they raided at least 19 stores over five months. 

The gang used spotters to make sure they were not observed and communicated with each other through Bluetooth earpieces as they loaded the booty into carrier bags. 

Their raids netted high value alcohol worth £48,276, of which £5,800 worth was found by police when they were arrested. 

 Both men are Romanian, although Stoica had been in Britain for ten years and Matei for just a few weeks. Stoica needed the money to fund a gambling addiction while Matei was sending some home to his family. 

 Stoica, aged 31, and Matei, aged 26, both of Alverstone Road, Coventry, admitted conspiracy to steal and were both jailed for two years by Judge David Evans. 

He said it will be up to the Government whether the men are deported when they finish their sentences. 

 Mr Michael Brown, prosecuting, said the thefts began in May last year and involved the two men and sometimes up to four others. They continued until October, although Matei was caught in August and held in custody. 

They targeted top-end bottles of spirits which are routinely fitted with security tags but which they were able to remove before loading them into bags for life or trolleys. 

In one raid they returned wearing different clothes and made off with alcohol worth a total of £17,000 in the two thefts. 

Mr Dhaneshwar Sharma, for Stoica, said he had lived in Britain since 2012 and is married with two young children. He became involved in crime after building up gambling debts. 

Miss Francesca Whebell, for Matei, said he came to Britain last year and was lured into the conspiracy after failing to find work. He is now desperate to return home to look after his sick mother and frail father.