Thieves were caught stealing copper wiring from a Chesterfield recycling firm

A thief has been brought to justice after he was caught with a co-accused trying to steal copper wiring from a metal recycling firm.
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Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on May 1 how Robert Smithson, 20, was captured after someone spotted an offender on CCTV in the compound of PPX Metal Management, on Burley Close, Chesterfield.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “This was an overnight theft. The company was looking at CCTV just after midnight and saw someone in the compound and police arrived at the site and a lock had been cut from a gate to gain access.

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“Police found a Transit van nearby with the engine running and a key was still in the ignition and there were fake number plates held on with hair-bands and the vehicle had been stolen.”

Chesterfield magistrates' court.Chesterfield magistrates' court.
Chesterfield magistrates' court.

Police saw males running from the compound into a field, according to Mrs Allsop, and Smithson and a co-accused were arrested after the offences in March, last year.

The court also heard that there was a trail of copper from the van and there was a pair of bolt croppers in the back of the vehicle.

Mrs Allsop added that Smithson’s co-accused has already been convicted and was jailed for 26 weeks for the theft and for handling stolen goods in relation to the Ford Transit van.

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Smithson, of Rotherham Road, Swallownest, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to theft from PPX Metal Management and admitted handling stolen goods in relation to the van.

He was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work, an £85 victim surcharge and £85 costs.