Two cousins stole a washing machine from outside a Kerry woman’s home for scrap metal because they thought it was “rubbish”, a court was told.

Appearing before Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday Alin Stephan Costea, 26, and Stefan Alin Zaharia, 24, both of Birmingham, pleaded guilty to stealing a washing machine from Bethan Jones on February 20.

The magistrates decided that Costea played a “more significant role” in committing the offence and gave him a greater sentence.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, told the court: “The victim in this case left her home to take her children to school. When she returned she saw a van blocking her driveway.”

She saw two men get in the van and drive away, Ms Tench said.

Miss Jones noted that the washing machine, which was left outside her house by her step father, was gone. She tried to follow the van but did not succeed, the court heard.

Costea and Zaharia were then arrested in a Welshpool car park four hours later and were found to have the washing machine and other items in their possession, Ms Tench said.

The defendants told police that they believed the washing machine had been “left there by the bin as rubbish”, the court heard.

Paul Inns, defending, told magistrates that Costea was a scrap metal merchant, and that it’s a “proper business that he runs”.

Costea, with his cousin, Zaharia, were travelling around the area looking for scrap metal. They had permission to take other items, Mr Inns told the court. However, they saw the washing machine and “thought it was rubbish” and took it without permission after getting no answer from knocking on the door, the defence told magistrates.

Mr Inns said: “This wasn’t just two blokes in a van travelling in the area willy nilly.”

The chair of the bench said this case was “a bit complex because we feel that Mr Zaharia played a lesser role”.

The magistrates ordered Zaharia to pay £350 including £75 in compensation.

“Mr Costea, we feel you played a more significant role,” the magistrate said.

He was given a 12 month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £200 including £75 in compensation.