Case dropped over stolen charity goods

TWO men accused of depriving a children's hospital of charity cash have escaped trial after failing to appear at a South Yorkshire court.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Aug 2007, 08:12 BST

Updated 22nd Aug 2007, 09:11 BST

Egidijus Bukas and Jevgenij Golembovskij were charged with stealing clothing that Rotherham residents had donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The hospital said thefts of donated clothes had resulted in a 220,000 loss in income in 2006.

But the pair, previously of Bolsover Road, Firth Park, Sheffield, are not being pursued for the offence after they failed to turn up in court to face the allegations.

A spokeswoman for Great Ormond Street today said she was “disappointed” with the outcome.

Bukas, aged 20, and Golembovskij, 24, appeared at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court earlier this year and were due to appear before Doncaster magistrates.

BUt they failed to turn up and prosecutors have dropped the case - saying all the stolen goods had been recovered.