AN ASYLUM seeker has been locked up for stealing mobile phones from women in Nottingham's Rock City nightclub.
Algerian Sami Akke hid two of three phones he stole in the front of his trousers, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
He took two Samsungs and an iPhone on January 18. Just after midnight, the first victim felt a tug on her handbag and then saw a man, fitting Akke's description, walking away.
All the women discovered their phones had gone while they were still inside the venue and alerted staff. Akke, 19, of no fixed address, was arrested.
He also had a Belgian identity card belonging to someone else. At court, Akke admitted possessing the card and stealing the phones.
He was already subject to a conditional discharge for two years for three thefts of phones in a London club. The court heard he previously stole two iPhones and a Samsung mobile at the Ministry of Sound nightclub, in Elephant and Castle.
Sue Matthews, prosecuting, said: "He has come to Nottingham and done exactly the same thing."
She said he hid in a lorry to come to the UK and tried to claim asylum on January 2. A decision is yet to be made on whether he can stay.
Emma Coverley, in mitigation, said he had no family in England and hoped to stay.
"His family are all Algerian," she explained in court. "He came over when his father passed away. Whilst in custody he was informed by his brother that his mother had died."
Judge Michael Stokes QC told Akke he was dealt with leniently by a London court for the three earlier offences.
"Within two weeks you came to Nottingham and committed three identical thefts in a nightclub, and were found in possession of someone's identity card. You are illegally in this country. It is a matter for the Secretary of State whether you are allowed to stay."
Resentencing him for the offences in London, the judge gave him three months in custody. For the Rock City thefts he received another six months and another month for possessing the identity card.
His total sentence in a young offenders' institution is ten months, of which he will serve half before release on licence.
Send the bugger back
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