A pickpocket wanted throughout Europe has been jailed after being caught by undercover officers on the London Underground.

Romanian Catalin Copaie, 40, was spotted and tailed by a plain clothes team as he moved between stations on the Piccadilly line in December.

The officers swooped at Green Park after seeing Copaie stash a £100 yellow purse in his pocket. He was also found in possession of a three-inch lock knife.

Copaie was found guilty of theft and possessing a knife at Hendon magistrates’ court on January 3 and was jailed for a year.

Further investigations into his background revealed that he was a pickpocket well known throughout Europe and had several convictions.

Pc Steven Bryan, of British Transport Police, said: “Hopefully this will send a message to anyone else considering the same.” The arrest was part of BTP’s Operation Marauder undercover patrols to target pickpockets on the Tube.