Man jailed for stealing over £4000 worth of goods and causing over £4,000 in damage at railway depot - Motherwell

A man who stole over £4,520 worth of railway equipment and personal belongings and caused £4,635 worth of damage to property at a Motherwell Depot has been jailed for 21 months.

Joseph Guiheen, 44, of no fixed address, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday 18 June where he pled guilty to three counts of theft by house breaking.

The court heard how he carried out the three thefts on the 13 and 24th December 2020 and the 15th January 2021 which totalled £4,520. He also caused £4,635 worth of damage.

Items stolen included three iPhones, one Network Rail Samalite torch, 2 HP laptops, and a charity box along with other railway equipment. A staff member on duty also had his bag stolen which contained expensive clothing, headphones and aftershave which was over £200.

He was arrested and charged by officers on 17th January 2021.

Detective Constable Thomas Gallagher said: “This was a determined and brazen theft which could have cost the railway over £9,000 in loss.

“This sentence demonstrates just how seriously the courts take these incidents, and I’m sure this custodial sentence will give the individual plenty of time to reflect on his actions.

“We are committed to tackling all forms of theft and work closely with Network Rail and other industry partners to make the railway a difficult place for these criminals to operate.

“If you spot any suspicious activity on the railway, please report it to BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency always call 999.”