Man jailed for £35,000 cable theft

Steven Moore, of Clayfield View in Mexborough, hired the lorry he and two other men used to swipe ten tonnes of cabling.

Mark Chandler (43) and Scott Horsefield (33), both of Doncaster, were also found guilty of conspiracy to burgle. They were jailed for 30 and 13 months respectively.

Chandler worked at the Peterborough depot where the burglary took place in August 2012. He reported the break-in despite being part of the gang responsible.

An anonymous tip-off led British Transport Police to Horsefield’s address, where three drums of cable and several thousand pounds cash were found.

Phone records showed he and Chandler were friends and both men were arrested.

Officers found Horsefield had also been in contact with the firm used by Moore to hire the lorry, which had been spotted travelling between Doncaster and Peterborough

on the day of the burglary.

The three were sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on June 5.

Det Con Michael Hatcher, who led the investigation, said: “This lengthy and complex case required excellent police work and great diligence.

“Far from being a victimless crime, cable theft costs the rail industry millions and forces delays which impact on passengers and train services.

“As this investigation shows, we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to catch those responsible.”