Three railway industry workers from the West Midlands have been jailed for their parts in the theft of track and other materials worth up to £1.5 million which affected a line in Warwickshire.

The "industrial scale" thefts from Network Rail projects, including an upgrade of the West Coast Main Line in the Rugby area, saw lorry-loads of used rails diverted to unauthorised scrapyards.

Stuart Amphlett, 33, Paul Tandon, 47, and 41-year-old Neil Jones were jailed at Birmingham Crown Court for conspiracy to steal, along with John Burtenshaw, 53, Terence Doherty, 48.

Jones, of Bradshaw Avenue, Darlaston, was found guilty of conspiracy to steal from the West Coast Main Line and was sentenced to 21 months.

Tandon, of Curbar Road, Great Barr, Birmingham, was sentenced to 18 months, having admitted conspiracy to steal from the West Coast Main Line.

Amphlett, of Wychbold Crescent, Kitts Green, was sentenced to 18 months, having admitted conspiracy to steal.

Burtenshaw, of Fenny Road, Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire, was jailed for two years and nine months, having admitted conspiracy to steal from the West Coast Main Line.

Doherty, of Rushton Close, Burtonwood, Warrington, admitted conspiracy to steal from the West Coast Main Line and Manchester Metrolink and was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment.

Two other men - Nicky Halloran, 27, and 43-year-old Roy Skinner - were given suspended sentences after admitting respective charges of conspiracy to steal and theft.

Halloran, of Hill Top, West Bromwich, admitted conspiracy to steal from the West Coast Main Line and was sentenced to 12 months' jail, suspended for 18 months.
He was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and given a three-month curfew.



Skinner, of Gordon Road, Harwich, Essex, was sentenced to nine months, suspended for 18 months and give 200 hours of unpaid work, having pleaded guilty to theft of 60 sleepers.