Thief who stole cables from the railway near Wakefield jailed for 20 months
He was caught burning the cable near the track, in an effort to steal the copper
A man has been handed a 20 month prison term for stealing cables from the railway in Wakefield last year.
38 year old Andrew Holland, of Denmark Street, caused significant disruption after ripping up cabling at the Oakenshaw Junction on May 19 last year.
Officers found Holland close to the trackside with a large fire, believed to be burning railway cable in order to get to the copper.
Upon arrest, Holland was found carrying a box cutter, which he admitted to using for stripping cable.
A blow torch was also discovered nearby. During an interview, Holland confessed to stealing the cable.
His actions resulted in extensive disruption, with the financial impact reaching £57,000 including train delay compensation, the value of the stolen cable, labour costs, and the price of replacing damaged materials.
Holland was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court at the end of last month.
Olga Barannikova, of Network Rail, said: “Cable theft is incredibly dangerous and causes huge disruption for passengers and freight."
"We welcome this outcome at court and will continue to work closely with British Transport Police to crack down on this criminal activity and keep the railway safe and running reliably.”
PC Matthew Biggs, British Transport Police investigating officer, said: “Cable theft is not a victimless crime."
"The incident at Wakefield led to major disruption and significant financial cost, but beyond that these crimes endanger the lives of offenders, railway staff, and passengers.
"The electricity in railway infrastructure is powerful enough to kill or cause life‑changing injuries, and nothing is worth that risk. This sentencing reflects how serious the consequences are.
“We continue to work closely with Network Rail to reduce cable theft through targeted patrols, surveillance, and enforcement activity across the network.
"We’re supported by extensive CCTV coverage, and we’re on duty around the clock to protect the railway and those who rely on it. I would urge the public to report anything suspicious by texting us on 61016.”