FOUR men have received suspended prison sentences for their roles in a nationwide conspiracy to steal scrap metal and batteries from British Telecom exchange buildings, including in Cumbria.

Craig Denson, 23, of  Paignton Close, Liverpool, Anthony Warriner, 27, of Johnson Avenue, Prescot, Thomas Pugh, 25, of Bowring Park Road, Liverpool and Craig Butterell, 39, of Berrywood Drive, Prescot, pleaded guilty at their first opportunity to conspiracy to commit burglary.

Pugh and Warriner received eight-month prison sentences suspended for two years whilst Denson and Butterell received 10 month prison sentences suspended for two years. Pugh, Denson and Butterell must also complete 120 hours of community service.

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The case centred on the replacement of batteries at BT exchanges across the country. Employees of BT would go into the exchanges, replace the old batteries for new batteries and leave the old batteries – worth around £90 - to be collected and recycled.

However, it became clear that hundreds of these old batteries were missing from exchanges around the country, including in Cumbria at Dalton and Newby Bridge.

The case was investigated, with help from British Telecom, by detectives from Cumbria Constabulary, led by Det Con Ben Falvey, who were able to show that the four men - former BT Telecomm employees - were responsible for the thefts.

All four were sentenced at Preston Crown Court yesterday (October 27).

Det Sgt Andrew Lamb said: “These men made tens of thousands of pounds out of stealing batteries and scrap cable from British Telecom. We are committed to tackling Serious and Organised Crime and this should serve as a warning to other criminal gangs wanting to commit crime in Cumbria.

“Officers from Cumbria Police worked closely with colleagues from British Telecom to secure these convictions in what was a complex investigation across UK.”

A spokesman for British Telecom said: “BT applies the most rigorous procedures to ensure the security of its property and assets, working closely with the police and other organisations to prevent crime and track down offenders.

“We would like thank Det Sgt Lamb and his team at Cumbria Police for their efforts in bringing this to court. They are a small rural force and dedicated significant resources to help apprehend and prosecute a gang from outside their force area, who were committing offences across the UK.”