Man "exploded" cash machine at Castle Brom bank

BLOWN IT: Constantin Alexandroaia (inset) targeted the
Castle Bromwich bank on April Fool's Day

A CROOK who blew up a cash machine at a Castle Bromwich bank - causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage - has been jailed for more than 13 years.
Constantin Alexandroaia pumped gas into the hole-in-the-wall outside the Barclays branch in Chester Road.
He then ignited the fumes, blowing open the front of the dispenser in an attempt to access the cash vaults.
But the audacious crime came to nothing, after security glass stopped Alexandroaia and an unknown accomplice from getting to the money.
Birmingham Crown Court heard that the masked men had already caused a similar explosion the previous month, at a branch in Alcester Road, Druids Heath.
On April 15, the pair tried the tactics a third time, targeting a Barclays in Birstall, Leicester. This time the attempt was successful and they escaped with £27,000.
But a stolen BMW, left abandoned in Morris Croft, Smith’s Wood, helped police to track the unscrupulous scrap dealer – a trace of blood in the getaway car linked him to the crime.
Alexandroaia was arrested by officers on April 24, after he attempted to board a flight to his native Romania, although he denied any part in the crimes.
However, at Birmingham Crown Court last Thursday, he changed his plea to guilty and was convicted of three burglaries and causing explosions.
The 33-year-old, from Sparkhill, Birmingham, was said to be “ashamed” of his actions, claiming he had resorted to the desperate offences after falling into financial difficulties.
Justin Hugheston-Roberts, defending, said: “He could not cope here in this country, which is why he undertook the request from others to become involved in organised crime.”
Det Con David Bailey, from West Midlands CID, said: “His reckless actions posed a serious risk to the public, to police officers and to himself and significant structural damage was caused to the Barclays banks on all occasions.
“The gas cylinders could have exploded at any point which would have resulted in serious harm to the attending officers and potentially to any passing members of the public.”