St Albans Machinery Thieves Sentenced

THREE people have been sentenced for their part in the theft of plant machinery and fuel totalling �100,000 from seven areas including St Albans. The sentences followed an 18-month investigation into the thefts which occurred between April and August 2008

THREE people have been sentenced for their part in the theft of plant machinery and fuel totalling �100,000 from seven areas including St Albans.

The sentences followed an 18-month investigation into the thefts which occurred between April and August 2008 and involved diggers, excavators and a dumper truck.

Lee Tayler, 28, from Stevenage was given a two-year sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to steal plant equipment following a trial which began in January.

Craig Burleigh, 37, was given a 16-month prison sentence for the same offence and his partner Angela Staples, 42, was sentenced to 16 weeks suspended for 18 months. She was also given a community punishment order.

DC Chris Rawson who investigated the case said: "This case was extremely complex and wide ranging and included 473 pages of evidence from 53 witnesses.

"The amount of money involved in this case is significant but the long term impact to the building trade in these difficult times has actually been greater than the sum of the loss.