A serial pickpocket who targeted women between 13 and 35 on buses has been jailed.

Iulian Stelica, 38, of no fixed abode, has been jailed for 23 months after pleading guilty to seven theft offences between February 14 and March 20.

Stelica targeted the women on buses in Enfield, Haringey, Waltham Forest, Newham and Redbridge, stealing mobiles.

He was arrested in connection with seven of the thefts on Wednesday, April 8 at Luton Airport, where he was about to catch a flight to his native country Romania.

He was charged the following day and pleaded not guilty.

While he was in custody, he was linked to a further five offences, with which he was charged on Tuesday, June 23

He pleaded guilty to five of the offences and sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment.

He then appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, July 15 and changed his plea to guilty for the remaining seven offences, for which he was jailed for 18 months.

Detective Superintendent Adnan Qureshi, roads and transport policing command, said: "We are committed to detecting, disrupting and arresting those involved in crime.

"This unscrupulous person consciously carried out these theft offences, robbing his victims of their personal possessions and leaving them in a state of worry and misery.

"I would like to ask the public to help us thwart thieves by ensuring they take personal security precautions by keeping their possessions hidden and close to them and always be aware of their surroundings.”

Steve Burton, TfL’s director of enforcement and on-street operations, said: “Our MPS Roads and Transport Policing Command colleagues have done an excellent job catching and prosecuting this prolific thief, leading to this successful sentencing.

“Crime on the bus network has fallen for the ninth year running, and all of our customers have the right to travel without fear of theft. We continue to work hard with our policing partners to rid the network of such criminals and keep bus crime at its lowest level.”