An asylum seeker has been jailed for nearly two years for stealing from an Oxford University college and bizarrely ‘biting’ an extremely rare plant.
Faida Elhabib stole nearly £3,000 worth of items from Magdalen College and damaged extremely rare plants at Oxford’s Botanic Gardens, a court heard.
Oxford Crown Court was told the 31-year-old, originally from Morocco, stole jewellery, electronics and food from The Professor’s House at Magdalen College.
Elhabib also broke into a greenhouse at the neighbouring Botanic Gardens, damaging ‘extremely rare’ and unique plants in June last year. He was jailed for 21 months.
Puneet Grewal, prosecuting, said the couple who lived in The Professor’s House flat were out of the country at the time, when Elhabib stole items worth £2,854.98.
In the Botanic Gardens greenhouse, Ms Grewal said Elhabib had broken in through a window and damaged two ‘extremely rare’ plants – and even bit one of them.
The court was told the damaged plants were Anthorrhiza-echinella and an Epiphytic orchid. CCTV footage was later sought, with Elhabib identified as the suspect.
She said he was living as an asylum seeker in Oxford at the time, adding: ‘There must have been a degree of planning and knowing the occupants wouldn’t be there.’
Faida Elhabib, who lives in Luton, had 11 previous convictions for 16 offences, the court heard
Jewellery recovered from the hotel room Elhabib was living in was later identified as the stolen items.
Though the value of the damage caused to the rare plants was unknown, one of them was described as being the only one of its kind.
The court heard Elhabib, whose address was given as a road in Luton, Bedfordshire, had 11 previous convictions for 16 offences.
Peter Du Feu, defending, told the court his client didn’t remember the events.
‘He was at the time accommodated in an asylum seeker hotel in Oxford,’ he said. ‘He does remember these events, but in relation to the Botanic Gardens, he is not clear.
‘He doesn’t know why he disturbed the plants and he doesn’t remember biting one.’
Elhabib broke into a greenhouse and damaged plants at the Botanic Gardens in Oxford (above)
Mr Du Feu added that Elhabib had an account of being pursued by the Moroccan secret service, and that he had an ‘implant’ which helped the service ‘pursue him across Europe’.
The lawyer also told the court Elhabib has two kidneys and three hearts.
Mr Du Feu cotinued: ‘[Elhabib] says he does not have solicitors helping with his asylum application. He is trying to do that by himself.’
Recorder John Bate-Williams, after jailing Elhabib, told him: ‘I take account of your mental disorder, which must have been influential on your behaviour.
‘The outcome of your asylum application must be uncertain. It’s imperative in my view to seek assistance from a solicitor to help with your asylum application.’
