News
29 July 2010
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| David Woodard |
A thief has been jailed for stealing railway cable after police matched his DNA to a water bottle left at the scene of the crime.
David Woodard, 41, was sentenced to three years last week for stealing cable near Ferry Lane, Rainham.
The 41-year-old, of Crouch Avenue, Barking, was caught after detectives matched his DNA to a water bottle left at the scene.
Blackfriars Crown Court on Friday heard how lineside alarms were triggered at just after 10pm on December 14, 2009.
Officers searched the area and, while there was no trace of thieves, they found around 150 metres of cut cable on the ground. A rucksack was also recovered.
"This indicated that the person or persons responsible were more than likely disturbed during their attempt to steal," said investigating officer Det Con David Stewart.
"Within the rucksack was a pair of gloves and a water bottle," he added. "These items were sent for forensic analysis and the water bottle later returned a match to a certain David Woodard."
As a result of another alarm activation on January 13, a team of security guards carried out a search in the area of the Creekside viaduct, also on the high-speed line in Essex.
On arrival the guards saw a lone man - David Woodard - in dark clothing running away from them within the boundary fence of the railway.
"The security guards followed him and Woodard proceeded to evade them by hiding in the undergrowth," said Det Con Stewart.
Police dogs discovered bolt croppers and a pair of gloves near where Woodard, who was promptly arrested, was hiding.
About 300 metres of cable was recovered.
Woodard was later charged with attempted theft, criminal damage and endangering safety on the railway.
He admitted all the charges at The City of Westminster Magistrates' Court and was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court.
"Stealing from any railway is incredibly dangerous, but none more so than High Speed 1," said Det Con Stewart.
"Not only does it present severe dangers to those who trespass on the line, it also causes real headaches for passengers in terms of delays or disruptions to services.