Wakefield Cable Thief Jailed After £57,000 Rail Disruption

A Wakefield man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after stealing railway cable in an incident that caused widespread disruption and cost the rail industry £57,000. Andrew Holland, 38, of Denmark Street, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court on 30 January after admitting theft.

Police were called to Oakenshaw Junction on Monday 19 May 2025 following reports of cable being stolen near the railway. When officers arrived, they discovered Holland close to the trackside beside a large fire, believed to be burning railway cable. He was arrested at the scene.

A search of Holland uncovered a box cutter, which he later admitted using to strip the cable. Officers also located a blow torch nearby. During interview, he confessed to stealing the material.

The financial impact of the offence was significant. The total loss of £57,000 included compensation for delayed train services, the value of the stolen cable, labour costs and the expense of replacing damaged equipment.

Holland was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.

Olga Barannikova, Network Rail area customer service & performance manager, said:

“Cable theft is incredibly dangerous and causes huge disruption for passengers and freight. We welcome this outcome at court and will continue to work closely with British Transport Police to crack down on this criminal activity and keep the railway safe and running reliably.”

PC Matthew Biggs, investigating officer, said:

“Cable theft is not a victimless crime. The incident at Wakefield led to major disruption and significant financial cost, but beyond that these crimes endanger the lives of offenders, railway staff and passengers. The electricity in railway infrastructure is powerful enough to kill or cause life-changing injuries, and nothing is worth that risk. This sentencing reflects how serious the consequences are. We continue to work closely with Network Rail to reduce cable theft through targeted patrols, surveillance and enforcement activity across the network. We’re supported by extensive CCTV coverage, and we’re on duty around the clock to protect the railway and those who rely on it. I would urge the public to report anything suspicious by texting us on 61016.”

Image: Network Rail