Iliuta Gruia, a violent Romanian criminal who was given a restraining order for threatening to kill children, has returned to Britain and is leading a begging gang near Oxford Street, one of Europe's busiest shopping streets. Gruia was first exposed by the Express in 2025 as an axe-wielding thug when he lashed out at the newspaper's investigations editor, Zak Garner-Purkis, at a camp in London's exclusive Park Lane.
Gruia Spotted Gambling with Gang Members
On Monday, July 13, Gruia was pictured watching over members of the east European gang as they gambled together in broad daylight near Marble Arch. One man was seen clutching a large wad of notes while playing cards with his pals. The current site occupies a small patch of grass at the corner of Park Lane and Oxford Street, metres from Marble Arch.
Police and Council Response
Scotland Yard had previously faced criticism for carrying out welfare checks on inhabitants of the Park Lane camp, leading to accusations that the UK was a soft touch on illegal migrants. When the Express visited the site on Tuesday, July 14, there was no sign of Gruia, but a small group was seen sleeping on the ground or sitting around chatting. It is understood that 24-hour security patrols operate around the site where the group had previously set up their tents, pushing them onto the current litter-strewn space.
Anti-Social Behaviour and Theft
Besides gambling, members of the group have been seen urinating in public and drinking vodka despite a local ban on public drinking. A small group of women wearing headscarves and long skirts were seen dozing on cardboard next to shopping trolleys piled with bulging bin bags. There are no tents at the site, with gang members bedding down for the night outside Marks and Spencer's flagship store on Oxford Street. After being told to move on in the morning, they push their belongings in carts to Marble Arch, where they settle for the day, coming and going as they complete their begging shifts.
Members of the group have been banned from nearby shops after stealing. This reporter saw two gang members strolling out of Sainsbury's with arms laden with drinks, snacks and shampoo. A security guard, who did not want to be named, said they sometimes follow customers around the aisles and try to pick their pockets or snatch their phones.
Gruia's History and Gang Operations
Gruia is understood to be the ringleader of the organised begging gang. He had previously accused Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp of being a racist when the Tory MP visited the Park Lane site in June 2025. In summer, the gang's numbers are believed to swell, and before Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland, the group returns to Romania to enjoy their ill-gotten gains.
Police Clearance and Aftermath
During the Express's visit on Tuesday, officers from the Met Police descended on the site after complaints from locals about street drinking, public defecation and anti-social behaviour. Group members were told to move on or risk having their belongings seized. The operation also saw officers signposting some to nearby homeless shelters. Clearing the site took about 30 minutes, and the group moved off without a hitch, but within 10 minutes some returned, putting sheets of cardboard on the grass before lying down to rest.
Westminster Council and the Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.
