Metal thieves spotted on the roof of church

Three men who were caught stripping lead from a church roof have been ordered to pay compensation and do unpaid work as punishment for their crime.

Hundreds of pounds worth of damage was caused to St Paul's Church after the thieves struck in the early hours. David Jones and Lee Moreton, both of Darlaston, and Ryan Bedworth, of Birchills, admitted the theft in Darwall Street.

A total of £264 damage was caused and the trio were yesterday sentenced to community orders and to also pay costs at Walsall Magistrates Court.

Two of them were spotted by a worker at Hi's N Lows, a voluntary organisation at the church which helps the homeless and people with alcohol and drug issues, on February 3.

She heard footsteps on the roof and called police. Officers found and arrested the defendants at the church and strips of lead which had been removed were recovered.

Jones, aged 22, Moreton, 18, both of Old Park Road, and Bedworth, 19, of Green Lane, admitted the theft at a previous hearing.

Ranjit Sandhu, defending all three, said it had not been a sophisticated or well planned offence but was carried out due to a lack of food and financial means. He added the aim had been to sell lead to obtain cash to buy necessities.

Magistrates ordered Bedworth and Jones to do 100 hours of unpaid work and Moreton to complete 80 hours. They were ordered to pay £50 costs each and compensation of £88 to cover the costs.

Presiding magistrate Malcolm Taylor said it was a serious offence and could have had greater consequences. In a separate attack valuable brass candlesticks, crucifixes and other religious items worth £5,000 were taken recently from St Joseph's RC Church, on the Walsall-Sandwell border.