March 17, 2016 1.18 pm This story is over 95 months old

University of Lincoln student escapes jail sentence after nightclub crime spree

A University of Lincoln student who stole six mobile phones during a halloween nightclub crime spree has escaped a jail sentence. Lorik Matarova, 20, targeted women’s handbags while they were on the dancefloor at a Lincoln club. Matarova, who is in the second year of a interactive design course, was caught after a clubber enjoying…

A University of Lincoln student who stole six mobile phones during a halloween nightclub crime spree has escaped a jail sentence.

Lorik Matarova, 20, targeted women’s handbags while they were on the dancefloor at a Lincoln club.

Matarova, who is in the second year of a interactive design course, was caught after a clubber enjoying the Halloween night at Moda became suspicious, Lincoln Magistrates Court heard.

Police were called after the woman alerted a bouncer and Matarova was found to have six mobile phones in his trouser pockets.

Christopher Ward, mitigating, said Matarova admitted stealing the phones so he could sell them on and buy alcohol.

Mr Ward told the court: “He is from Doncaster but is at the University of Lincoln.

“He has been in Lincoln for two years and is doing an interactive design course.

“Around this time he was drinking very heavily. He had perhaps embraced the student lifestyle too enthusiastically.

“At the police station he said he was so drunk that he couldn’t remember what happened.

“He is appalled and very upset at the way he behaved.”

Matarova, of Gresham Street, Lincoln, who had no previous convictions, admitted six charges of theft on October 31, last year.

He was given a 12 month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £60 surcharge.

Passing sentence Deputy District Judge David Gostling said: “There is the importance of a mobile phone to individuals with photographs, it is quite an important item to steal.

“To steal them wholesale is particularly aggravating.”