A thief returned to Britain thanks to a European arrest warrant has been imprisoned for over a year.

Remus Pirlea, 22, formerly of Mill Street, Slough, pleaded guilty to one offence of theft at Reading Magistrates’ Court on January 8 this year, returning to be sentenced last week.

On January 19, 2019, Pirlea was working as the night manager of the Admiral Casino in High Street, Slough.

At about 5am he was seen on CCTV footage removing cash from the gaming machines and putting it into his coat pockets.

He left the casino with more than £25,500 and within three hours had left the United Kingdom on a ferry to Calais in France.

A European Arrest Warrant was obtained, and on January 7 this year Pirlea returned to the UK.

He was arrested and charged the same day.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to the theft at Reading Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody.

Last Wednesday Pirlea was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £140.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Tom Harman of Slough CID said: “This was a high-value theft by an employee of the affected business.

“I am grateful for the support of the casino, the Crown Prosecution Service and our partners in Europe.

“We used a European Arrest Warrant to bring Pirlea back to the UK to face justice.

“I hope that this sentence demonstrates the importance Thames Valley Police places on business crime and the efforts we go to in ensuring we bring offenders to justice even if they try to make their escape out of the country.”