A Japanese student became a victim of theft in the UK before she had even arrived in the country to begin university studies, a court was told.

The student's two suitcases arrived in the UK ahead of her and were placed in her allocated room at the University of Gloucestershire's Blackfriars accommodation in Ladybellegate Street, Gloucester.

However, on September 22, 2021, a student who had already moved into the block spotted two men jumping from the building shortly after 9.30pm into an adjacent construction site and called the police.

Prosecutor Cathy Thornton told Cheltenham Magistrates Court: "Shortly afterwards, police officers patrolling the area detained two people matching the descriptions given. A search was also made of the area and the officers located two suitcases which had been opened and rifled through.

"Initially, nobody could identify where the suitcases had originated from, as nobody had reported them as being stolen.

"Information about the suitcases was then relayed to the accommodation manager at Blackfriars, who reviewed the building's CCTV.

"He spotted that two men had forced their way into a room at around 9.30pm that evening and removed two suitcases from within.

"Having jumped out of the window, the men were seen rifling through the suitcases and removing a number of items including an electronic English/Japanese dictionary and bottles of medication, before discarding the suitcases.

"The men were identified by police as being the same two men whom officers had spoken to earlier in the evening. Christopher Hoskins and Paul Willicombe, both aged 47 and of Southgate Street in Gloucester, were arrested and their home addresses searched. The stolen items were found in the men's possession."

Hoskins told police he could not remember much about it because he had been intoxicated through drugs. He accepted that it was him on the CCTV and that he must have been responsible for the stolen items found in his possession.

The court was told that the Japanese student was newly registered and that her suitcases had arrived about a week earlier. She was due to move in later the following day, but her flight been delayed.

The student was informed of the break-in on her arrival, and she identified that the electronic dictionary, batteries and her medication had been stolen. The electrical device was later returned to her.

The student said in a victim statement: "I feel shocked that somebody would actually do this. I am grateful however, that the dictionary has since been returned to me."

Charlotte Robinson, defending both Hoskins and Willicombe stated that it was an impulsive, stupid, and unplanned offence committed by two long-term two drug addicts.

She added: "They saw a partially opened window in an empty flat with suitcases in it and decided force their way into the property.

"The Japanese/English dictionary would not have been much use to them, and its theft confirms their stupidity."

The court was told that since the men's arrest, they had turned their lives around. This was prompted by Hoskins being involved in a near fatal car collision on January 25, 2022.

Ms Robinson said: "Hoskins was taken into intensive care at hospital and placed into a coma. His parents were told that he was unlikely to survive. Fortunately, he did survive, and this incident was a wakeup call, not only for him, but Willicombe as well as they both have made huge changes in their lives.

"Hoskins had struggled with drug addiction for the past 25 years and has tried varied options to try and kick the habit. Since the collision he has been concentrating on his physical recovery and has stayed clean from drugs. He has worked with the substance abuse charity, Change Grow Live and has received counselling.

"Hoskins is tested for drugs on a weekly basis. He has remained clean from drugs since the collision.

"Willicombe had been a drug addict for 27 years and had frequently used heroin. He often replaced this class A drug with another drug. However, when Hoskins nearly died, this was the wakeup call he needed to quit.

"He has also made huge amount of changes to his life, including attended a rehabilitation programme at his own direction. He is now training to be a recovery coach.

"This is one of those occasions when out of adversity, with two men's lives spiralling out of control, that they have managed to turn their lives around."

Hoskins and Willicombe pleaded guilty to entering the Blackfriars building in Ladybellegate Street, Gloucester as trespassers on September 22, 2022, and stealing two suitcases and their contents belonging to the Japanese student.

Presiding Justice Alistair Ping told the defendants: "We've listened very closely to the mitigation presented on your behalf by your lawyer and acknowledge the good work you have done to turn your lives around.

"We can see that you have both made significant progress since the collision, which could have been so much worse, in that we are going to fine you £200 each for this offence.

The magistrates also ordered both men to pay £46 compensation to the college and the victim along with court costs of £85 and a mandatory surcharge of £34.