Bag thief broke nightclub ban days after release from prison

A SERIAL bag thief banned for life from every nightclub in Edinburgh was caught trying to enter Espionage just two days after being released from prison.

Redha Hamideche was given the lifetime ban under the Unight scheme after being jailed four months ago for a string of thefts.

The 37-year-old has been responsible for the theft of dozens of bags, jackets and phones from nightclubs across the Capital.

Door staff at Espionage recognised Hamideche from a mugshot kept at the club as he tried to gain entry on Sunday night and turned him away.

Police say the Victoria Street venue was a "regular haunt" for the convict who has a record of offending in Edinburgh dating back ten years. Hamideche, who lives in Leith, had only been released from Saughton Prison on Friday after completing his latest sentence.

Nick Callaghan, deputy manager of Espionage, said: "He just came up and tried to get in, but our door staff recognised him from his picture. We keep a book of all barred people.

"He would prey on people who left their bags unattended. The person would get their bag at the end of the night and find that their bank cards, wallet and keys had been taken.

"He was caught before by a member of staff acting suspiciously.

"We all want to stamp that sort of thing out. It does ruin a night out. People aren't always as careful with their possessions as they should be. This is a good way to keep known troublemakers out, and make it safer for everybody else."

Officers said his rejection from the club showed that the Unight scheme was proving successful in keeping out thieves and troublemakers from city premises.

A total of 142 people have received bans under the scheme since the launch of Unight in November last year, including Hibs star Derek Riordan.

A total of ten individuals have received lifetime bans from every club in the Capital.

Pc Mark Pickavance, who helped set up the Unight scheme, said: "Hamideche is a person who was responsible for various bag and other property thefts in pubs and nightclubs. He would look around for easy pickings, particularly women's handbags.

"He tried to get into Espionage on Sunday night but was spotted by staff. This is an example of how effective the Unight system is proving."

Last week, Derek Riordan escaped punishment after trying to beat his nightclub ban.

The former Celtic striker was caught out by bouncers as his team-mates tried to sneak him into an Edinburgh venue. The 25-year-old is currently serving a two-year nightclub ban following disturbances with door staff. He had been out with Hibs team mates Rob Jones, Dean Shiels, Lewis Stevenson and Filipe Morais on Saturday night and was rumbled by bouncers when his colleagues tried to sneak him into the Lulu nightclub.

Those banned – mostly aged between 18 and 26 – have typically been caught fighting or in possession of drugs.

Under the data-sharing system, still pictures of drug-takers or violent customers taken from CCTV cameras are sent to other clubs.

Offenders are given a banning letter prohibiting them from entering any of the venues.