Lithuanian gang member jailed for stolen car parts and faces deportation
Osvaldas Ubarevicius, 31, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in an organised crime network dealing in stolen car parts. He was caught in a stolen van carrying parts from vehicles dismantled at a site near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and is due to be deported after serving his sentence.
Police said the operation involved at least £325,000 worth of stolen parts, with their potential resale value likely to be higher. A private tracking company alerted police to the site on 22 April; CCTV connected a white van to it, and officers stopped the vehicle two days later. Enquiries to identify other people involved are continuing.
In short
- Gang member jailed for 30 months over stolen car parts.
- Police estimate the parts were worth at least £325,000.
- He is due to be deported after his sentence.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of deportation could argue that a serious sentence for involvement in an organised theft network should be followed by removal where the law permits, particularly when the person is not a British citizen. They may see this as protecting the public, deterring further offending and reinforcing that residence brings responsibilities as well as rights.
The case against
Those who question deportation could argue that it is an additional punishment after the prison sentence and should depend on an individual assessment, including family ties, length of residence and the risks of return. They may also stress that punishment and public protection should be handled fairly and consistently, rather than treating foreign nationality alone as a reason for removal.
Explained simply
Car parts can be stolen from vehicles or taken from cars that have themselves been stolen and dismantled. They may then be sold on, sometimes through networks that move parts between locations.
Osvaldas Ubarevicius is a Lithuanian man convicted for his role in such a network in Wiltshire. Police say the parts linked to the operation were worth at least £325,000, and officers are still investigating whether others were involved.
A prison sentence and deportation are separate decisions: deportation means requiring someone who is not a British citizen to leave the UK. The case brings together criminal penalties and immigration rules.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “It’s a chop shop fair cop, guv: Lithuanian gang member to be deported after being caught with £300,000 stolen car parts”.