Cable thief gang member cost taxpayer £1m

Jaime Beardmore (23), of Brunswick Street, Thurnscoe, received a 12-month suspended sentence for two years at Lincolnshire Crown Court on Monday.

Beardmore was part of a gang who were responsible for more than 35 thefts across Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottingham and Yorkshire during an 11-month period in 2013.

A two-year investigation by British Transport Police has resulted in six men, five from the same family, being jailed for a total of 12 years for conspiracy to steal railway cable. 

The seventh man, Beardmore, had conspiracy charges dropped to just one count of theft for which he was sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence for two years after pleading guilty.

He must also serve 100 hours community service, and is subject to a 12-month supervision order. 

The six other defendants included:

Brian Smith (36) of Millfield Lane, Stainforth, Doncaster (sentenced to three years and four months)

Philip Smith (25) of New Park Estate, Stainforth, (12 months)

Gordon Smith (46) of Ramskir View, Doncaster, (14 months)

Malcolm Isaac (42) of Thames Road, Grantham, (32 months)

Charles Smith ( 31) of Toller Court Horbling, Lincolnshire, (14 months)

Craig Smith (27) of Holly Street, Lincoln. (32 months)

The court heard how they targeted three major rail improvement projects being delivered by Network Rail, and stole signalling cable, which had been installed but not yet commissioned as part of the projects. 

They then stripped the cabling and sold the copper inside. 

The total cost to Network Rail to replace the stolen cabling was valued at just over £1 million.

The investigation into the gang’s activities secured evidence from various sources, linking all seven to each other and to the crimes and led to the seizure of two of their vans, a quad bike, as well as hydraulic cutting equipment. 

Property seized at their homes, including bolt coppers, disk cutters, grinders, hacksaws, cable sheathing and an off road bike also provided invaluable evidence which when shown to the group, gave them no option but to plead guilty.

“The gang targeted areas of the rail network which were remote and difficult to access without knowledge,” said Det Insp Mick Dawes who headed up the Operation Motion.

“They travelled the country in what was a well-planned and organised operation. 

“Cable theft costs the rail industry millions of pounds each year, causing delays and increases in costs to projects which have a knock-on effect on passengers.”

Hayley Bull, community safety manager at Network Rail, said: “Trespassing onto the network for any reason is extremely dangerous and as this case shows, it can end up costing the taxpayer huge sums of money to put right.”