A Blackwood man who stole 300 metres of cable from the railway, causing severe disruption between Cardiff and Rhymney, has been jailed for 18 months.
Paul Henry Jones, aged 52, of Beech Avenue, Pontllanfraith, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday.
He had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to theft of railway cable.
The court heard that at 9am on March 3, 2011, British Transport Police received a report that 300 metres of railway cable had been stolen from Gibbons Crossing, between Hengoed and Pengam.
Following a search of the area, six separate bundles of cable were discovered in heavy undergrowth.
The cable was then sprayed with “DNA grease” -a tracing agent invisible to the naked eye.
Officers stayed in the area for covert surveillance and later that night, at around 12.15am, Jones was arrested after being flushed out of a wooded area by a police dog.
While in custody, Jones underwent an ultra-violet light examination which revealed traces of the DNA grease on his hands and clothing.
In interview, Jones admitted handling the cable, saying he came across it after walking along the railway line from a friend’s house in Hengoed, but denied any involvement in the theft.
The theft caused considerable disruption to train services on the Cardiff to Rhymney line. A total of 52 trains were delayed, totalling 386 minutes, with a further 30 services part cancelled. The total cost to Network Rail in terms of repairs and compensation to the railway was £4,509.
Detective Sergeant Guy Ellis, who led the BTP investigation, said: “The forensic evidence linking Jones to this crime was indisputable.
“One of the tactics we employ in the fight against cable theft is the use of technology such as DNA grease, which helps us unequivocally identify people who come into contact with stolen railway property.
“This specialist forensic agent remains on a person’s clothing and can be traced for some time after first coming into contact with it.
“We also work closely with scrap metal dealers throughout the area and our officers conduct regular checks on anyone who brings in cable for scrap.
“The judge commented during sentencing that metal theft had reached epidemic proportions and condemned the disruption and harm caused to the community as a result of this particular theft.
“We seek to obtain substantial custodial sentences for anyone who steals railway property, and this has been demonstrated over the past few months.
“Individuals who commit these offences undermine the very fabric of our society by attacking the rail infrastructure without any concern whatsoever for the day-to-day wellbeing of law-abiding taxpayers.
“I hope sentences such as this will continue to serve as a stark warning to others seeking to profit from stealing from the railway.”
Mark Langman, Route Managing Director for Network Rail, said: “Cable theft causes massive disruption to rail passengers and freight. These crimes aren’t just an inconvenience; they are costing our economy millions of pounds each year. Just last week thieves targeted the Rhymney Valley line.
“As this case illustrates, we will work with BTP to find those thieves and bring them to justice. I am pleased that the court has recognised that this crime is more than a petty theft and hope that this sentence will act as a deterrent to criminals who are targeting our railway.”