News

THREE men who stole 80 metres of cable from the railway line between Barnsley and Huddersfield have been sentenced.

John Boy Shaw, 33, Raymond Walker, 47, and Christopher Paul Davies, 28 were sentenced to 15 months each after pleading guilty.

The men stole the cable from the line between Capital Close and Higham Lane off Whinby Road.

British Transport Police investigated and found the men burning cable off West Road, in Pogmoor.  Officers searched a flat in Barnsley where the men had been seen and a large amount of cable sheathing was discovered.

PC Mark Holberry said: "Theft of cable from the railway is not only costly, but also has a devastating impact on the community. Cable theft causes massive disruption to both rail passengers and freight lines."

The cost to Network Rail in compensation to train companies and repairs was estimated at over £9,400.

Phil Verster, from Network Rail, said: “Cable thieves deny passengers the service they rightly expect and, through the massive cost to the industry, deny everyone improvements to rail services.“