Man who stole copper tank is jailed after police catch him in the act

A Draperstown man, who was caught by police driving out of the Rural College in Draperstown with a copper tank in the back of his car, was jailed for eight months when he appeared before Magherafelt Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Brian Bell (54) of Glengomna Road, Draperstown was charged with burglary, theft, criminal damage and going equipped for theft.
The court heard that police received a report of a burglary at the Rural College in Draperstown sometime between August 28 and 31.
On September 7, police received a further report of a burglary at the Rural College during which copper piping had been stolen from the roof of one of the college’s residential buildings.
The court then heard that on October 9, police were contacted about damage to two CCTV cameras at the Rural College. CCTV footage was obtained which showed two males, one of the men was identified as the defendant.
The hoody which the defendant was wearing at the time was later found in his vehicle, the court heard.
On October 13, police on patrol of the Draperstown area observed a car waiting to exit from the Rural College’s driveway. When the driver spotted the police car, he reversed the vehicle back up the lane.
Police used their vehicle to block the exit before approaching the car.
They spoke to Bell who was the driver and observed a large copper water tank in the backseat, the court heard.
During a further search of the vehicle, plyers, cutters and a pair of gloves were recovered along with the same hoody that the defendant was wearing in the CCTV footage.
Bell was arrested after he was unable to provide an explanation for possessing the items.
Defence barrister Liam McStay said that the incident was a ‘joint enterprise’ between the defendant and his son.
Mr McStay said: “The Rural College has been closed for a number of years. It is in a very rural location which makes it attractive to people willing to plunder. This type of offence is usually associated with young juveniles, in fact a number of the defendant’s young adolescence family have been involved in a number of offences in the local area. This was a joint enterprise between him and his son.
“I would ask you to take the view that he unusually involved himself in the behaviour of his young adolescence children,” said the barrister.
Addressing Bell during sentencing, District Judge Alan White said: “You committed this offence while you were under a suspended sentence. It is my job to put suspended sentences into effect when they have been breached. I always look for some reason not to impose the sentence but you were given a suspended sentence, then within less than a month you are committing this offence. Then during interview you denied it and blamed your son. In this case, custody is the only option.”