A THIEF who preyed on old women has had his sentencing hearing adjourned because his solicitor’s firm forgot to send him any legal representation.

Titus Jelea was due to be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court at 2.15pm last Friday for two offences of burglary in which he stole purses from women on the street.

But the court heard the Forbes Solicitors had forgotten about the hearing and therefore failed to instruct a barrister to represent Jelea, a Romanian national.

Judge Andrew Woolman adjourned the case until this Friday and ordered Forbes to cover the cost of Romanian interpretor Anna Maria Barbulescu.

Addressing Ms Barbulescu, Judge Woolman said: “Can you explain to the defendant that his solicitors have failed to turn up? They acknowledge that it is their error.

“Unfortunately at this time of the afternoon there is not time to arrange for anybody else to come and represent him. I have no option but to adjourn the case until next Friday morning when Forbes will send somebody to represent him."

At an earlier hearing Blackburn magistrates heard Jelea, 64, of Barnes Street, Church, followed one woman to her front door before stealing her purse.

The other victim was shopping in Asda when Jelea stole from her shopping bag.

Jelea pleaded guilty to theft of £100 from the Asda victim on July 5 and theft of £500 from the second victim on July 20.

The court heard that on July 20 the victim went to Lloyds bank in Accrington at 10.30am and withdrew £500.

She put the money in her purse which she then transferred into her wheelie bag.

As she was walking home a male came behind her and said there was a coin on the floor.

The Asda victim had got money from the cash machine before doing her shopping. When she got to the checkout she realised her purse had been stolen.