Menu
05/08/2008
'Rail Robber' Could Have Caused 'Serious' Accident
A Newport man who stole more than 170 tonnes of rail track could have caused a "serious crash".
Fifty-three-year-old Anthony Porretta, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to two years and nine months after pleading guilty to stealing the track, worth £83,000, from Acton Turnville, South Gloucestershire.
British Transport Police (BTP) said he carried out the theft from alongside the main line running between south Wales and London Paddington.
He then sold the metal to a scrap merchant in Newport.
BTP said the track had been originally been removed by engineers from Acton Turnville, for a renovation project and placed at the side of the railway line.
Unemployed Porretta, then set about stealing the valuable metal, and on 1 December, 2006, used a crane to load five lorries with the old track.
Following an investigation by British Transport Police CID officers, five men were arrested, one being Porretta.
His four co-defendants were acquitted after Porretta admitted the offence.
Acting Detective Inspector Jon Rawson from BTP said: "In a worst-case scenario Porretta's actions could have caused a train to crash.
"There are safety procedure to follow when removing redundant track from beside the railway line, which Porreta did not follow.
"A piece of rail track could have struck a passing train and caused a serious rail incident. Fortunately this did not happen."
Acting Detective Inspector Rawson said after the sentencing: "We are pleased and hope it sends out a strong message that this type of crime will not be tolerated."
BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnstone has described the metal theft as the force's second-biggest challenge - after terrorism.
BTP said that metal theft is up nationally by at least 150% and estimated to cost British industry £360 million annually.
Between January and mid-June, there were 1,169 recorded cases of metal theft and 235 arrests.
(DS)
Fifty-three-year-old Anthony Porretta, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to two years and nine months after pleading guilty to stealing the track, worth £83,000, from Acton Turnville, South Gloucestershire.
British Transport Police (BTP) said he carried out the theft from alongside the main line running between south Wales and London Paddington.
He then sold the metal to a scrap merchant in Newport.
BTP said the track had been originally been removed by engineers from Acton Turnville, for a renovation project and placed at the side of the railway line.
Unemployed Porretta, then set about stealing the valuable metal, and on 1 December, 2006, used a crane to load five lorries with the old track.
Following an investigation by British Transport Police CID officers, five men were arrested, one being Porretta.
His four co-defendants were acquitted after Porretta admitted the offence.
Acting Detective Inspector Jon Rawson from BTP said: "In a worst-case scenario Porretta's actions could have caused a train to crash.
"There are safety procedure to follow when removing redundant track from beside the railway line, which Porreta did not follow.
"A piece of rail track could have struck a passing train and caused a serious rail incident. Fortunately this did not happen."
Acting Detective Inspector Rawson said after the sentencing: "We are pleased and hope it sends out a strong message that this type of crime will not be tolerated."
BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnstone has described the metal theft as the force's second-biggest challenge - after terrorism.
BTP said that metal theft is up nationally by at least 150% and estimated to cost British industry £360 million annually.
Between January and mid-June, there were 1,169 recorded cases of metal theft and 235 arrests.
(DS)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
07 May 2010
Voters Turned Away
Angry voters resorted to sit-in protests last night after poll stations failed to deal with the demand. Hundreds of voters were turned away from polling stations and police had to be called to deal with the lengthly queues as the voting deadline passed.
Voters Turned Away
Angry voters resorted to sit-in protests last night after poll stations failed to deal with the demand. Hundreds of voters were turned away from polling stations and police had to be called to deal with the lengthly queues as the voting deadline passed.
23 April 2010
TSL 'Sounds Out' Sunday Times Top 100
A leading broadcast sector business that produces a range of audio monitoring, power management and tally signalling products, TSL, has been named in the latest Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 list.
TSL 'Sounds Out' Sunday Times Top 100
A leading broadcast sector business that produces a range of audio monitoring, power management and tally signalling products, TSL, has been named in the latest Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 list.
16 April 2009
Last UK Single Track Road Upgraded
Britain's last remaining single track trunk road, the A830 'Road to the Isles', has been upgraded to double carriageway standard following a £23m investment. Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said completion marked the end of an era for a road which has been famed for many years for its single track status.
Last UK Single Track Road Upgraded
Britain's last remaining single track trunk road, the A830 'Road to the Isles', has been upgraded to double carriageway standard following a £23m investment. Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said completion marked the end of an era for a road which has been famed for many years for its single track status.
13 March 2012
Calls For Metal-On-Metal Hip Implants To Be Banned
Calls are being made to ban controversial metal-on-metal hip implants after experts found “unequivocal evidence” of high failure rates. Data gathered on 400,000 hip replacements found metal-on-metal implants needed revising more often than other types, and that failure rates of the implant were higher in women.
Calls For Metal-On-Metal Hip Implants To Be Banned
Calls are being made to ban controversial metal-on-metal hip implants after experts found “unequivocal evidence” of high failure rates. Data gathered on 400,000 hip replacements found metal-on-metal implants needed revising more often than other types, and that failure rates of the implant were higher in women.
01 October 2013
New Scrap Metal Law Introduced
A new law has come into force that requires all scrap metal dealers and motor salvage operators in England and Wales to apply for a license from their local authority and maintain records of who they buy from. The law, which comes into force today (1 October), has been introduced in an effort to reduce the trade in stolen metal.
New Scrap Metal Law Introduced
A new law has come into force that requires all scrap metal dealers and motor salvage operators in England and Wales to apply for a license from their local authority and maintain records of who they buy from. The law, which comes into force today (1 October), has been introduced in an effort to reduce the trade in stolen metal.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, soon followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
