Contractor stole cables from Midland Metro
A contractor who stole overhead cabling from the Midland Metro and sold it on for more than £1,000 has been handed a 12-week suspended sentence and ordered to do 120 hours' community work.
John Thomas, aged 50, was working for Morgan Sindall and had been employed by transport authority Centro to do engineering work at the Wednesbury depot.
Thomas claimed that at the end of his contract, a 'blind eye' was turned and he admitted taking the wire to his home in his works van.
He pleaded guilty to theft and Mark and Gary Talbot admitted helping him sell the stolen goods to a scrap dealership on August 20 for a £100 cut each.
Mr Harmail Gill, defending, said Thomas, of Hungerford Avenue, Crewe, believed he had permission to take the cabling.
Mr Gill said: "A blind eye was turned to the fact it was taken, an unspoken agreement." Thomas had not realised this was not the case until his arrest.
Gary Talbot, 50, of Sydney Road, and Mark Talbot, 49, of Gainsborough Road, both Crewe, were given 12-month community orders, under which they will have to complete 120 hours of community work.
The trio were ordered to pay £85 court costs as well as compensation of £360 each.
By Alex Homer
