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One-armed bandit in court for stealing single cufflink

6:10am Saturday 13th March 2010 in


A ONE-ARMED bandit who stole a single cufflink has been given a community sentence.

Meroslva Balog, 28, walked into C J Vinten jewellers, in London Road, Leigh, pretending to look for a present for his mother.

He then knocked over a display before snatching a solitary £130 gold cufflink, shaped like a boxing glove. The thief was caught after police issued a CCTV image of him, which appeared in the Echo.

He appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where he admitted the crime and also to stealing a watch from Debenhams, in the town centre, on January 18.

Balog, of Retort Close, Southend, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and was ordered to complete a 12-month community sentence and 120 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £130 compensation to the jeweller and court costs of £105.

Comments(11)

Isaac Hunt says...
6:21am Sat 13 Mar 10

Mmmm - Balog sure don't sound like he comes for this country - maybe he lost the other arm after shoplifting in a middle east country

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NOTORIOUS says...
8:17am Sat 13 Mar 10

leave him alone his armless!!! :D

on a lighter note the security tag for this is both-hurt - shame it wernt for him as he only has 1 lol !!!

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evilc says...
8:18am Sat 13 Mar 10

He is not that harmless.

He could always get a job as a one armed bandit.

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ilovelife says...
12:14pm Sat 13 Mar 10

ive seen this man before in the arm and navey

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ilovelife says...
12:16pm Sat 13 Mar 10

or it might of been the sutton arm

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mrsandre says...
5:13pm Sat 13 Mar 10

I read Balog is Czech, came over with his girlfriend and 3 kids and claims benefits..

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Nebs says...
8:06pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Have you considered work?

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Island Mac says...
10:21pm Sat 13 Mar 10

There's just one thing puzzling me.......how did he put the cufflink or the watch on???????

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evilc says...
8:05am Sun 14 Mar 10

Island Mac wrote:
There's just one thing puzzling me.......how did he put the cufflink or the watch on???????
very good point that perhaps he has an army??

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Bosniavet says...
10:50pm Sun 14 Mar 10

mrsandre wrote:
I read Balog is Czech, came over with his girlfriend and 3 kids and claims benefits..
Oh well, that means the fine & award of costs against him was pretty pointless then.......
I suppose he'll be unable to do any of his "community service" due to his disability.........
I realise that our jails are overcrowded, but the alternative punishments just don't seem to work on any level. I look forward to reading of Mr Balog's next escapade.

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Robtin says...
10:18am Wed 24 Mar 10

Surely non British nationals once convicted should be deported immediately,then i guess you get all the no hope do gooders saying he has human rights right of family life and such rubbish ,I fully agree so send them with him then.

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