Two asylum seekers "armed with wire cutters" have been sentenced after attempting to steal designer items from John Lewis at a shopping centre in Kent.
Frans Epentrius, 29, and Tobias Iileka, 33, were caught by Bluewater staff on December 23 when Epentrius tried to conceal a £550 Coach handbag in a brown paper bag.
Iileka was found carrying wire cutters during the incident at the shopping centre near Stone.
As they await their asylum claims to be processed by the Home Office, the pair appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on January 14 and admitted the offences.
Iileka was found carrying wire cutters during the incident at Bluewater shopping centre near Stone
PA
Staff spotted the pair acting suspiciously in the store at 4.35pm when Epentrius selected a black Coach designer handbag.
After realising he had been seen by staff, Epentrius went behind a column and placed the handbag on a different display.
"They refused to wait for the police and they both ran off but were subsequently caught and taken to North Kent police station," prosecutor Lauren Kenny told the court.
Police reviewed CCTV footage of the incident and discovered the wire cutters in Iileka's bag.
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Simon Patrick Pettican, representing Epentrius, told the court his client was a father of two whose children were in Africa with family.
The court heard Epentrius was receiving support from a friend after his Salvation Army payments had stopped.
Iileka had previously stolen items worth £1,356 from the same John Lewis store on December 4.
A probation officer told the court that Iileka initially withheld his reasons for the thefts but later admitted he was stealing to order as he explained that a friend of his had listed specific items to target, including designer fragrances, handbags and sunglasses.
Iileka, from Crawley, said he needed the money to buy food and clothing.
The court heard he receives £40 per week from the Home Office for financial support.
The pair appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on January 14, where they admitted the offences
PA
Iileka had one previous conviction for failing to pay a railway fare during a trip to Cornwall when his return transport was cancelled.
District Judge Nadeem Holland sentenced Epentrius to a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.
Meanwhile, Iileka received a longer sentence of an 18-month high-level community order, requiring him to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.
The judge did not order Iileka to pay compensation for the goods stolen on December 4, due to his lack of financial means.
Epentrius had two previous convictions for seven offences, though none were similar to shoplifting, and owed £419 for an earlier train fare evasion.
