Two jailed for setting hut on fire and killing man near A406 in Ilford

Ionel-Octavian Stanciu and Petra Deliu were convicted yesterday (Credit: Met Police)

Two men have been jailed for killing 38-year-old Ionut Manea in wasteland next to the A406 in Ilford. 

Ionel-Octavian Stanciu, 37, and Petra Deliu, 52, poured petrol on a makeshift camp and set it on fire while two men were inside in June 2019.

The fire burned Ionut’s entire body and he later died in hospital while another man also suffered horrendous burns and was treated in hospital for six weeks. 

Traces of petrol were found next to the only door to the hut and it is likely both victims were engulfed in flames before managing to escape. 

The attackers were drunk at the time of the killing and no motive for the attack has ever been established. 

Ionut Manea, 38, was killed in June 2019 (Credit: MPS)

Stanciu was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 31 years after being found guilty of murder and grievous bodily harm with intent at the Old Bailey yesterday. 

Deliu was found guilty of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm and jailed for 12-and-a-half-years. 

Detective Sergeant Ian Valentine, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “This is a tragic case in which one man lost his life, and a second suffered horrendous burns.

“Ionut Manea came to this country to seek a better life but instead he found himself living in a makeshift camp on wasteland close to a busy road. He died in the most horrific circumstances after petrol was poured onto the campsite.

“The actions of Deliu and Stanciu were very deliberate and today they have been held to account for their actions.”

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