A THIEF involved in ripping out 800 metres of cable next to the East Coast Main Line was yesterday jailed for a year.

Kevin Skelton was one of a gang who returned five nights in succession to lift 267kg of disused cable from ducts alongside the main line, near Drum Lane, Chester-le-Street .

Durham Crown Court was told the thieves even placed it across the line, so it would be cut into manageable strips by passing trains.

But Skelton was traced because he sold the cable, in four metre strips, at a local scrapyard.

The court heard he gave his real name, but used a former address.

Steven Orange, prosecuting, said the cable sold for £1,068, but the overall cost was estimated at £4,748, through accrued losses and potential repair bill, for line operator Network Rail.

Skelton, who was traced to Barley Mow, between Chesterle- Street and Birtley, claimed his share from the sale was only £300. The 21-year-old, of Dorset Avenue, admitted theft, between July 10 and 15.

Paul Cross, mitigating, said: “Plainly, where live cable is stolen from the railway, there are all sorts of serious consequences to rail services.

“But, this was redundant cable. It’s in a different league, with no ensuing disruption.

He’s been quite frank in what he admitted. He and his friends wander round the railway line looking for scrap.

“The idea it’s some sort of sophisticated operation is far from the truth.

“They were removing something of relatively insignificant value, taking something that, in his mind, was scrap.

“He even gave his correct identity at the scrapyard. The more sophisticated criminal would have used some form of false identification.”

Jailing Skelton, Recorder Ray Singh said: “It may have been redundant, but this was a considerable length of cable, with the high prices at sale making it attractive to thieves.”