It is everyone’s worst nightmare – stalked, followed, and robbed.
But that’s what happened to a man in his late 60s who popped into his local bank.
And, but for the prompt of response of a passing neighbour, police, and firefighters, he nearly died after collapsing from shock after realising what had happened.
The victim, described by police as “vulnerable” became the target of Ion Radulescu.
Radulescu 45, spotted his victim in the Huntingdon branch of Barclays Bank in Market Square, on 15 March 2019.
He watched and loitered as the victim was helped by staff to withdraw money from a cash machine.
And then followed him out of the bank and back to his Hartford Road home.
Radulescu knocked on his door and asked the man for a glass of water and directions before stealing a debit card and money whilst the victim was getting the water.
He then returned to the bank and used the stolen bank card to withdraw £900 from the cash machine, just before the victim managed to call 999 and attend the bank to cancel his cards.
When the victim arrived back at his home, he collapsed unconscious as PC Aiden McKay was knocking on his door.
Outside his home the victim suddenly stopped breathing but thanks to attending officers, firefighters who brought a defibrillator, and bystanders, he was resuscitated.
Radulescu fled to Romania but was eventually arrested at Luton Airport on 9 November last year after being held by customs officers.
On Monday, at Cambridge Crown Court, Radulescu, of no fixed address, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison, having pleaded guilty to burglary and fraud.
The sentence took into account guilty pleas to charges of burglary and fraud relating to a similar incident in Waltham Abbey, Essex, in February 2018.
The judge also commended PC McKay and an officer who wishes to remain anonymous for their lifesaving efforts.
DC Kellymarie Harman said: “Radulescu targeted a vulnerable elderly man innocently going about his day-to-day business.
“It was a disgusting and cowardly crime and then tried to dodge justice by fleeing Britain but thankfully we managed to arrest him on his return and put him before the courts.
“The stress of the whole ordeal nearly killed the victim, and I would like to pay tribute to the officers, firefighters and members of the public who helped save his life.
“I would urge people to look out for their elderly or vulnerable neighbours and call the police if they have any suspicions, they could be a victim of crime.”
