Thief Stole Cambridge Man’s Phone While Giving Him A Hug

The victim was in the toilets of The Regal pub in Cambridge on 26 February when Dere Gute, 32, approached him and gave him a hug.

The victim later noticed his phone was missing. He reported it to bar staff and explained he hadn’t seen it since coming back from the toilets and gave a brief description of the man who hugged him.

About 15 minutes later, bar staff at the pub received another report of a missing phone.

Later in the evening, they noticed the first victim having an altercation with a man who they recognised as Gute and he explained this was the man who he believed had taken his phone.

Door staff promptly escorted Gute to a back office where they discovered two mobile phones concealed in his waistband.

Police were called and Gute was arrested.

Gute, of Lower Fosters, New Brent Street, Greater London, pleaded guilty to theft of a mobile phone and breach of a suspended sentence and was handed a 15-month prison sentence at Cambridge Crown Court

PC Rachel Thomas who investigated, said: “Gute has shown himself to be a prolific thief with no intent on stopping.

“We take these incidents very seriously and work hard to bring offenders before the courts.”