Jail for man who handled stolen metal

A man who handled stolen copper that was stripped from a railway line in Walsall was starting a 12-month prison sentence today.

Brian Platt helped transport and weigh 100 metres of the metal, a court heard.

He said he was flagged down by two men who promised him a drink if he lent a hand. The 42-year-old got involved while on a suspended 36-week prison sentence for affray, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Judge Nicholas Webb sentenced him to a year behind bars for handling stolen goods and the affray, which took place in a working men's club last year.

The copper, which was clearly labelled Network Rail, was taken from a line in Ryecroft, Walsall, at around midday on March 9 this year.

The court heard how police later found the metal, the defendant and two other men outside a house in Webster Road, Coal Pool.

Mr Charnjit Jutla, prosecuting, said: "The two other men ran off, leaving the defendant and the copper cable.

The copper was in a van and the front and rear gardens of the house and an axe was also recovered.

"In interview, he refused to name the two men. He said he had been driving to his mother's address when they asked him to weigh the cable. He said they offered him a drink for helping them."

Platt, of Lichfield Road, Bloxwich, previously pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods. Mr Jutla said he had a long criminal record for theft, handling and burglary.

Mr Stephen Cadwalader, defending, said Platt's home that he shares with his wife and grown-up son would be under threat if he was sent to prison.

"He accepts that, because of the circumstances in which he was asked to carry the copper for a drink, it was probably stolen," Mr Cadwalader added.

Judge Webb said metal theft was an "increasingly prevalent" crime.

"It is clearly a source of considerable concern for the courts," he said. "You were caught red handed and it is a great pity that you were not able to keep out of trouble."