Two members of a four-strong Romanian gang who stole metal intended for M6 gantries have been caught and convicted.

Costel Stoican and Ionut Colomuz loaded a van with piping being used to create new gantries between Junctions 9 and 10.

They were seen on CCTV taking the metal, which was worth more than £2,500 and belonged to Carillion, from alongside the motorway on March 6.

They were charged with theft, but failed to appear before Walsall Magistrates Court on March 16 and warrants without bail were issued.

Stoican, aged 34, and Colomuz, 23, were arrested on Thursday and admitted the offence at court yesterday.

The pair also accepted failing to turn up for the hearing without excuse and were fined £100.The magistrates ruled that the period in custody would be default for the payment.

Another member, van driver Leonard Gheorge, was hit with a £200 bill and an order for his vehicle to be confiscated and crushed.

A fourth man is still at large. Family Colin Heald, prosecuting, said there was a coned area where materials and equipment was kept.

A Transit was seen parked at around 1pm with three men loading the van and another in the driver’s seat.

Police arrived and the men were arrested.Roger Owen, defending Stoican and Colomuz, both of Churchill Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, said they had been driven to the motorway by Gheorge.

They believed it was scrap metal as there was piles of it.

He told the court: “They were drawn here by the hope of getting some money through work so can send some back to their family.

“Both defendants have come here without addresses but have been met by other Romanians and have been offered accommodation in return for working, initially by collecting scrap.”

Gheorge, aged 23, of Ward End Park Road, Birmingham, was fined £100 and banned from the road for two months last week.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.