Claudia Rostas appeared in court again this week after admitting to stealing a diamond ring (Image: BNPS)
The 33-year-old Romanian, Claudia Rostas appeared in court this week after admitting to stealing a diamond ring, worth £5,750, while standing inches away from a jeweller, reports the Daily Mail. A judge described her as a “dishonest woman” who had shown “limited remorse”, but spared her jail because her 12-year-old son is being treated for cancer.
She is also likely to be able to continue to receive benefits, despite having a string of previous theft convictions spanning a decade. If her case sounds familiar, you may be thinking of another foreign criminal, Tsvetka Todorova – who was back in the news last week.
After being released from jail for her role in Britain’s biggest ever welfare fraud, the Bulgarian promptly went on Universal Credit, only to have it cut off when the media alerted the Department for Work and Pensions.
While Todorova, 54, was more than happy to speak to reporters, Rostas was not, responding to questions with a simple: “It’s none of your business.”
But others would disagree, with immigration campaigners asking how a professional criminal has been allowed to stay in the country simply to steal and claim benefits.
Prisoners are barred from claiming state benefits, but released prisoners or those serving a non-custodial sentence can still be eligible.
CCTV captures slick theft operation
Rostas was caught on CCTV walking into her latest target, Hamilton’s jewellers in Dorset, on April 26, 2025.
After making enquiries about the ring alongside a male accomplice, she asked staff to gift wrap it and – at the last second – changed her mind about the style of paper she wanted them to use.
As the jeweller turned her head for all of a few seconds, Rostas palmed the ring, closed the lid of the box and put it back in its sleeve.
She continued to look up at the worker as she did so – evidently well-versed in pulling the trick off without looking at her hands.
The conwoman then handed the empty package back to the unwitting staff member, who began to gift-wrap it – assuming the ring was still inside.
Then came the getaway as Rostas “discovered” that she didn’t have enough money. She told the staff she would get the rest from her mother outside and left – leaving them with what they assumed was the ready-wrapped gift.
Decade-long crime spree across England
As her professionalism makes clear, this was far from her first rodeo.
Rostas, who has lived in England since she was seven, has previous convictions for targeting jewellery stores across the country.
Each time, she has received either a suspended sentence or a short jail term, without breaching the one-year threshold at which she could become liable for automatic deportation.
Her most prolific spell came in 2019, when she stole £8,250 worth of jewellery from Goldsmiths in Stockton in February before making off with a gold chain and a bracelet worth £6,258 from Claybrooks jewellers in Herne Bay four months later.
Tsvetka Todorova was released from jail for her role in Britain’s biggest ever welfare fraud (Image: DM)
Calls for tougher deportation laws
Robert Bates, Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control, believes her case is illustrative of broader problems in the immigration and criminal justice system.
“This is a perfect example of the pressing need for a change in the law that would make it much easier to deport foreign national offenders, especially those who repeatedly offend,” he told the Mail.
“The immigration system allows lots of professional criminals into the country, who offer no value, and make life worse for everyone else.”
“It is time we took a tougher line and stopped Britain being the playground for foreign gangs and criminals.”
The Mail said it asked the Home Office to reveal Rostas’ UK residency status or whether it has ever made any effort to deport her.
When asked by reporters about her residency status, Rostas replied – with a London accent: “It’s not your business – it’s my business, my life.”
“The court case is finished. I don’t want to speak to anybody about it.”
Rostas, who made just £750 from her latest theft, was identified via CCTV and arrested at Stansted Airport as she returned from Romania.
The ring itself was never found, and she refused to help police track it down.
Rostas had been the subject of a conditional discharge sentence for her earlier theft in Herne Bay, Kent.
Defence cites sick child as reason for theft
Guy Gosheron, defending, said the money she earned from the theft was used to treat her sick son, who has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and a brain tumour, and is only expected to live for up to three years.
She also lost a child to cancer in 2022 and faced “significant financial difficulties” travelling from their home in north London to Great Ormond Street Hospital several times a week for chemotherapy, he said.
Mr Gosheron said: “She had been out of trouble for some time and the resumption of her offending results from her son being ill.”
“Tragically the prognosis is very bleak and she wants to be able to provide him with gifts while she can make the most of the time they have together.”
“She’s not working and on benefits and has been financially strained so wasn’t in the best position to shower her child with gifts.”
“Because of that she resorted to committing this offence.”
Nigel Farage takes aim at Robert Jenrick over immigration
Judge imposes suspended sentence and shopping ban
District Judge Orla Austin described Rostas as a career criminal with a history of dishonesty and deception.
“This was a sophisticated, deliberate distraction theft,” she told her.
“Ultimately you are a skilled thief and used your skill to take that ring which has now disappeared and cannot be recovered.
“I make it clear I have considerable reservations about your honesty.
“You tell me you very sadly had one child who passed away through cancer and now have another.
“Mr Gosheron has seen documentation which seems to corroborate that.
“I am just prepared to give you one final opportunity and suspend your sentence.”
Rostas, who admitted theft, was given a 26-week sentence suspended for two years and 20 rehabilitation activity days and ordered her to pay £800 compensation, taken monthly from her benefits.
The judge also handed her a ban on visiting every shop in England and Wales save for food stores, post offices and chemists for the next year.
She added: “If you want an electrical item or clothing you will have to get it in a supermarket or online.”
“I do recognise that’s a significant infringement on your liberty but given your prolific offending I believe that is proportionate.”
