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A couple recruited their young children to help them steal designer goods in a 'disgraceful shoplifting expedition'. Iosif Grancia, 35, and his wife Ana-Mirabella Grancia, also 35, were spotted using the youngsters as a cover as they stole jumpers, a handbag and other designer goods worth £1,774 from the Cheshire Oaks shopping outlet, a court heard. In one incident, Mr Grancia was seen on CCTV taking items from the shelves of a Nike store and placing them in a bag, before handing them to one of the children who was stood with Mrs Grancia. Mrs Grancia then left the store with the child while her husband continued to steal other items - and leave the store with their other child without paying. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE The couple returned to the same store with the youngsters two months later and Grancia was seen passing a bags with stolen items to the older child, Chester Magistrates' Court heard. The pair, both of Avon, Widnes, were stopped by police when their Peugeot 308 was identified on CCTV. They were found in possession of £231 worth of jumpers from Tommy Hilfiger and a £239 designer hand bag from Coach. Inquiries revealed Mr Grancia had previous convictions for handling stolen goods and theft from Ireland and Germany and had previously received suspended prison sentences. He and his wife later claimed they were stealing the goods for their children. The pair faced up to three years in jail under sentencing guidelines after they pleaded guilty to four offences of theft. But both were spared jail on Monday (October 27) due to their 'childcare commitments'. Sentencing, Deputy District Judge Roger Lowe, who declined to hear mitigation after reading a background report about the couple, told them: "As far as I am concerned this is quite a deliberate shop lifting expedition by both of you. "You involved your children in it which is quite disgraceful. On each occasion you stole high value designer clothing. "I am not satisfied that it was all for the use of your own children. Even if it was, there is no excuse for those offences. If you are impoverished there are charity shops where you could afford decent clothing for your children without going to stores with high value clothing.'' He added: '"As far as I'm concerned these offences cross the custody threshold but I have to consider whether I can suspend the sense of imprisonment. "You both have child care commitments so I'm going to suspend the sentence of imprisonment but I do so with a degree of reluctance because these are extremely serious offences. "Let me tell you now, if you commit any further offences during the period of suspension this sentence is almost certainly going to be activated and you are going to prison.'" Mrs Grancia was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months. Mr Grancia was sentenced to six months jail, suspended for 18 months. Both were ordered to pay £500 in compensation. Earlier, Michelle Dodd, prosecuting, said: "On June 15, the defendants entered the Nike store at Cheshire Oaks and selected four pairs of shoes and a T-shirt, placed them in a bag which was handed to a small child in their company. "Mrs Grancia leaves the store with the small child. Mr Grancia and another female who was with them, continued to fill bags with T-shirts and shorts and leave the store with another young child not attempting to make a payment at the till. "The estimated value of the goods was about £500. On August 24, Mr Grancia entered the Nike store again at Cheshire Oaks. "He is followed a few minutes later by Mrs Grancia with two young children. Mr Grancia takes a number of items and places them in a Nike bag. "Mrs Grancia and the older child went go into cupboard on the shop floor for staff only to take cardboard bags and return to Mr Grancia. They continue to take items from the shelves and put them in a bag. "Mr Grancia has handed the bag to the older child. Mrs Grancia and the two children leave with Mrs Grancia and the older child carrying a bag. Mr Grancia leaves the store through another exit. Items at this point valued at £800." The prosecutor said a check on CCTV showed the couple arrived at Cheshire Oaks in a car with a registration belonging to a Peugeot 308. "On August 31, the vehicle was seen by the police officer at Cheshire Oaks", she said. "Alerted by the vehicle the defendants were detained when returning to the vehicle. "They were found in possession of further stolen items. Enquiries showed that on August 31, the defendants entered the Tommy Hilfiger store with three children. "Whilst in the store, the defendants selected three jumpers to a total value of £235. They are seen to de-tag the items leaving the store without making any payment. "On the same day, they entered the Coach Store, selected a hand bag off the shelf valued at £239. Mr Grancia has placed the handbag between himself and the child he was holding and left the store without making any payment. "A search was made of the defendants’ home address on August 31. No items were seized. "Children were in the company of the offenders and actively used to facilitate the offences - they were not just merely present." Mr Grancia had 15 previous convictions including minor road traffic offences but also thefts and handling stolen goods. In 2020 he received an eight-month suspended prison sentence for theft and received an 11-month suspended prison sentence in 2021 with probation rehabilitation for an disclosed offence. He had convictions from Ireland and Germany. The couple's solicitor Catherine Higham said: "Mr Grancia is in receipt of state benefits. Mrs Grancia is also in receipt of state benefits but also works part time as a cleaner."
