Jail for head of railway cable theft gang

The leader of a gang whose thefts caused railway chaos has been sent to prison.

Travel Insurance News - 11/04/2011

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Lee Bamford, has been given a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence. At an earlier hearing, the 34 year-old man, of Calladine Close, Heanor, in Derbyshire, had pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to convert stolen property and conspiracy to steal.

The gang of thieves in Derbyshire caused widespread travel chaos when they stole copper cables from railway lines. Bamford was alleged to have been the head of the gang, which targeted rail lines across England.

The gang’s actions led to delays and the cancellation of services resulting in costs of £1 million. On each count, Bamford was handed a term of four-and-a-half-years. His prison terms will be served concurrently.

According to British Transport Police, the gang stole at least 32 tonnes of the copper railway cabling over the course of 18 months. The group of thieves was responsible for no fewer than 67 thefts, which resulted in more than 300 hours’ worth of train delays.

Network Rail says the crimes led to it having to spend £936,896 for repairs and other costs. Detectives investigating the string of thefts discovered that the gang had been to metal recycling firms in Derbyshire.

Gang orders, seeking to sell the stolen cabling, used false names and identifications. The other gang members were sentenced in March. Bamford has only just been sentenced as he earlier failed to appear in court.

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