Castleford copper theft gang left 45,000 homes without power and put lives at risk during 'incredibly dangerous' crime spree
The gang put residents’ lives at risk as they plundered 92,000 metres - around 57 miles - of hard drawn copper wire belonging to Northern Powergrid.
They are thought to be responsible for over 250 separate incidents of theft in a conspiracy lasting 17 months.
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Hide AdThe wiring was then sold to two crooked scrap metal dealers who arranged the onward sale of the high value metal.
Six men were jailed at Leeds Crown Court after a painstaking investigation which cost close to half a million pounds.
The court heard how the gang would usually strike in the middle of the night and target overhead power lines in rural areas.
The thieves used “crude” methods to carry out the offences and placed themselves in grave danger of electrocution.
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Hide AdLive power lines were cut with bolt croppers attached to extendable poles
None of the gang members had any knowledge of working with power lines.
During the course of the offending 45,000 homes in Yorkshire and the north east were left without power.
The offending had the potential to electrocute people and damage electrical devices within homes.
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Hide AdMembers of the public who came across damaged power lines and those responsible for investigating the offences were also placed in danger.
The gang delivered over 20,000 kgs of copper wiring to corrupt scrap metal merchants John Crookes and Jonathan France and were paid around £70,000 in total.
France - who is already serving a 10-year prison sentence for fraud and other financial crimes worth £6m - went on to launder over half-a-million pounds through the bank account of a business associate.
Four men were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal between September 2013 and February 2015.
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Hide AdAfter the case, DCI Andy Howard of Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “These thefts took place over a number of years.
“Given the level of offending and the geographical range of overhead power lines targeted, the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit investigated.
“The investigation was detailed and thorough and a lot of painstaking work went into bringing these people to justice.
“They now have time inside to consider the consequences of their actions.”
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Hide AdJamie Davies, 32, of North Street, Castleford was jailed for 18 months. Lee Robinson, 37, of Fryston Road, Castleford, was jailed for 30 months.
David Southern, 34, of Langdale Close, Castleford, was jailed for 34 months. Richard Harper, 30, of Ackton Hall Crescent, Pontefract was jailed for 24 months.
John Crookes, 32, of The Willows, Darlington, was jailed for 42 months after being found guilty by a jury of handling stolen goods
Jonathan France, 48, of Walton Road, Wetherby, was given a two-and-a-half year sentence after admitting two offences of handling stolen goods and false accounting.