Wakefield Man to Be Sentenced After £57,000 Railway Cable Theft

A man who admitted stealing high-value cabling from the railway network is set to be sentenced early in the new year after his court hearing was postponed. Andrew Holland was due to be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on December 23, but proceedings were adjourned after it emerged he had been recalled to prison and was unable to attend.

The 38-year-old will now return to court on January 22 to learn his sentence. The court heard that Holland has already admitted responsibility for the theft of railway cabling worth tens of thousands of pounds.

According to court records, Holland, of Denmark Street in Wakefield, previously pleaded guilty to stealing more than £57,000 worth of cable belonging to Network Rail. The theft took place at Oakenshaw junction on Black Road in Heath on May 19.

Railway cabling is frequently targeted by thieves due to the high scrap value of metals such as copper. However, such offences often have serious consequences for the rail network, with stolen cables regularly causing signalling failures and widespread disruption to train services.

The impact of cable theft can extend well beyond financial loss, affecting passengers through delays and cancellations while posing significant safety and operational challenges for the railway.

Image: British Transport Police