Romanians steal man's home
THE impact of Britain’s open-border policy on immigration was laid bare yesterday when it emerged how Romanian squatters moved into a man’s home while he was at work and attempted to claim it as their own.
Mihai and Laura Dediu, who have two children, said they met a man in a local shop who told them the house had been empty for some time.
Home owner David Mooney was only saved from having to fight a lengthy eviction case when he unexpectedly returned home to retrieve his forgotten wallet.
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He was stunned to find the Romanian couple had forced the locks on his two-bedroom end-of-terrace home and were in the process of emptying it of his belongings.
He promptly called police who arrived at the house in Southfields, Northampton, and arrested the couple.
The extraordinary episode was revealed at Northampton Crown Court last week in front of a incredulous judge who warned the case demonstrated how Britain was in danger of regressing to the 19th century.
Outlining the incident last December, Judge Richard Bray said: “The owner comes back at 5pm and there’s an unknown car parked in his drive and the lights to the house are on.
“He goes in and finds these two defendants and, wait for it, a young child.
“We are going back to Dickensian times it appears.
“When challenged, the defendants say they own the property and are just moving in and that the male defendant was going to alter the locks as part of that process.
“Then an unidentified person attends to take the child away. What’s going on here?”
The judge added: “This is a bizarre case. I must be the most experienced person in this building for burglary and in 26 years I cannot remember a case where burglars have taken a young child with them to carry out a burglary. I really can’t.”
Dediu, 30, and his 24-year-old wife, who now live at a rented flat in Southfields, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the locks and windows. A burglary charge was dropped.
Judge Bray sentenced them to 12-month community orders with 100 hours community service. Astonishingly, they have been allowed to stay in Britain and continue claiming state benefits, such as child benefit.
Last night Dediu, who speaks only broken English, told how he had lived in the UK for three years. He and his wife have two daughters aged eight and two.
Dediu, who works as a builder, claimed the incident was all a misunderstanding.
“I got into the house and started to tidy up and put things in the bin,” he said. “I put all the rubbish outside.
“The house was a mess. It did not look as if anybody was living there. Then at 5pm this man came home and called the police. We were arrested and were taken to the police station.
“I want to work and pay my bills. I don’t want any free money. I just wanted to save money and not pay rent. I don’t earn very much, only about £150 a week.”
Last night Mr Mooney, who is now back in his home, declined to comment.
But a neighbour said: “Whatever happened to the notion that an Englishman’s home is his castle?
“What sort of country has it become when someone goes to work and has to worry about whether he will find a family of immigrants living in his home when he returns?
“This is the sorry conclusion of allowing uncontrolled immigration.” Earlier this year, Romanian squatters broke into a house in Tottenham, north London, as it was being renovated.
Julian and Samantha Mosedale, both 45, had spent a fortune refurbishing the £285,000 house and were planning to move in soon.
But their dream turned into a nightmare when the unwanted guests arrived over Christmas and changed the locks. Police refused to take action and the couple claimed officers even accused them of being “racist” for questioning the squatters’ rights to live in Britain on benefits.
