14:15 15:08 Friday 24 February 2017
A drug and gambling addict who brought misery to thousands of rail passengers across the East Midlands area has been jailed for 26 months.
Lucas Niewiem, 35, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday for stealing cable from the railway line in the Long Eaton and Nottingham areas on eight occasions in March and April last year.
Niewiem, who had previously admitted to using an axe to chop the cable from live lines, pocketed a total of just 1,000 for his crimes by selling the cable to a scrap metal dealer.
His actions, however, resulted in 3,267 minutes of delays to trains in the East Midlands area and cost Network Rail over 164,500.
Niewiem was arrested at his home address on Lawton Close in Nottingham on April 28 after he was identified through forensic evidence left at the scene.
When officers searched his house, a cannabis farm was discovered above a child's bedroom in the loft.
Twenty-four plants cultivating cannabis with a street value of 24,000 were found which Niewiem claimed to be growing for personal use.
Detective Inspector Gareth Davies, of British Transport Police, said: "Niewiem's drug and gambling addition led him to risk his life to target the railway to steal cable to fund his habit and lifestyle.
"His selfish actions resulted in misery for thousands of passengers who were left stranded on platforms waiting for delayed trains throughout the East Midland area in March and April last year."
Niewiem was given a 26-month jail term, 16 for the theft of cable, eight months behind bars for cannabis production and a further two-months' term for an unrelated theft, drugs and breach of a non-molestation order from January.
DI Davies added: "Cable theft is not a victimless crime; it costs the rail industry millions of pounds each year and disrupts passenger journeys and busy lives.
"We take this type of crime extremely seriously, and we will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.
"We worked closely with Network Rail and East Midlands Trains to secure the sentence against Niewem which we hope sends act as a deterrent to others."
Hayley Bull, community safety manager at Network Rail, said: "This case demonstrates just how costly cable theft from the railway can be.
"Trespassing onto the network for any reason is extremely dangerous, as well as being illegal.
"This incident shows how cable theft can end up costing the taxpayer huge sums of money to put right, as well as causing mass disruption to passengers trying to go about their daily lives.
"It also causes delays to improvement work, which is vital to create a more reliable railway.
"We are continually developing better ways to protect the railway from cable thieves and will continue to work with the British Transport Police to prosecute anyone caught carrying out such a mindless act of vandalism."
Sarah Potts, crime and security strategy manager for East Midlands Trains, said: "We are delighted with this result as cable theft not only costs the railway industry a lot of money but can cause significant disruption for travelling customers.
"The jail term demonstrates that we take cable theft seriously and will continue to support our partners at British Transport Police and Network Rail in seeking convictions for individuals who selfishly inconvenience our customers."
Read more from the original source:
JAILED: Drug and gambling addict brought misery to train passengers - Eastwood Advertiser
- Not Victimless: Understanding the harmful effects of ... - December 10th, 2016 [December 10th, 2016]
- State crime - Wikipedia - December 10th, 2016 [December 10th, 2016]
- Types of Crimes - Overview and Discussion - December 31st, 2016 [December 31st, 2016]
- Victimless Crime Constitutes 86% of The Federal Prison ... - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Arizona and California Auto Insurance Fraud Busts - Claims Journal - Claims Journal - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Police aim to prevent prostitution, human trafficking - Woburn Daily Times - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Campaigners say Rabobank should face trial for 'crimes against ... - DutchNews.nl - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Meth arrests, seizures surge in Bowling Green | News | bgdailynews ... - Bowling Green Daily News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- 7 arrested for auto insurance fraud scheme - KESQ - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Bitcoin, Stop Apologizing for Victimless Crime - Nigeria Today - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Perfectionism Is Insanity And Impossible To Accomplish - Being Libertarian - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Family of Collision Repair Shop Owners Allegedly Scammed Insurers Out of $560000 - BodyShop Business - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- High rates of parental incarceration among African-Americans means that criminal justice reform is now education reform - USAPP American Politics and... - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Owners of Seven California Collision Repair Shops Allegedly Scammed Insurers Out of $560000 - BodyShop Business - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Cop Block Founder Ademo Freeman Arrested in Ohio for Drug Trafficking/Possession VIDEO - Free Keene - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Hinds County and Morton police team up on 11 drug arrests - Jackson Clarion Ledger - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Teddy bears, food packaging and family photos: The huge illegal ... - shropshirestar.com - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- 3 juveniles sentenced for starting fire at MCDI in Springfield - wwlp.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Hadi's Bill opens doors for disproportionate punishments, constitutional expert says - Malay Mail Online - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Call to tackle rural crime as farmers 'soft targets' | UTV - ITV News - ITV News - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Open letter to MPs on Hadi's Bill - Malay Mail Online - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Law enforcement, advocacy groups work to stop sex trafficking in the Fox Valley - WGBA-TV - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Malaysia: Hundreds of thousands expected to join mass rally calling for greater Syariah laws - Asian Correspondent - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Rural crime figures are a concern - Farming Life - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- 'Simply unacceptable': Northern Irish farmers remain soft targets for ... - FarmingUK - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- What People Are Saying About Homeland Security's Plan to Crack Down on Immigrants - Phoenix New Times - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Stubbing out illegal cigarettes will help plug SA's budget deficit - Business Day (registration) - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Your tip sheet: No sanctuary - Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- A Map of Corruption in France - Big Think - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Inside The Quiet, Prophetic Politics Of Theologian C.S. Lewis - The Federalist - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Drug addict Lucas Niewiem had cannabis farm above child's bedroom AND stole railway cable - Derby Telegraph - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Jewish community rallies against anti- Semitic attacks - San Diego Jewish World - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Efficiency And Effectiveness: Our Approach To Primary Markets - Speech By Christopher Woolard, Executive Director ... - Exchange News Direct - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- With few safeguards, Jewish cemeteries make easy targets for vandals - Jweekly.com - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Number of suspected child sex offenders in Bedfordshire almost ... - Bedfordshire News - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Philadelphia unions offer to repair vandalized Jewish cemetery - Arutz Sheva - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Breastfeeding bills aim to help children of incarcerated mothers - NMPolitics.net - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- John Klar: Scott plays both sides in marijuana debate - vtdigger.org - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Families of victims of Colombia's paramilitaries get their day in US court - The Guardian - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Preserving stories from Mt. Carmel - South Philly Review - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Legislature should ensure juries know their options - St. George Daily Spectrum - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- How to End the War on Cops and Restore our Liberties at the Same Time - Being Libertarian - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Museum collects stories to show vandalized gravestones are more than just toppled rock - Newsworks.org - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- The Sessions Scandal Exposes the Racist Double Standard of Trump's 'Law and Order' - AlterNet - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Feelings of vulnerability fomenting among local Jewish community ... - fox2now.com - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- For Democrats, How Many American Victims Are Enough? - Townhall - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- How to Reverse Incarceration in Louisiana: Thirteen Steps to Stop Being First in Being Last - Common Dreams - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Welch State Police Detachment welcomes new commanders - Bluefield Daily Telegraph - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Legislature boosts penalties for prostitution-related crimes - Deseret News - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- This VOICE tells racist lies - Socialist Worker Online - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Wisconsin Veterinarian sentenced 4 years for labor, sex trafficking - Woodbury Bulletin - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Stop looking at child abuse online - get help now - Falkirk Herald - Falkirk Herald - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Convenience stores count the cost of retail crime - Talking Retail - Talking Retail - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Groton man who robbed Old Lyme bank on a bike sentenced to five years - theday.com - March 12th, 2017 [March 12th, 2017]
- Robert King sobs as he's spared jail for possessing thousands of images of child abuse - Somerset Live - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- LA councilman targets 'knock-knock' burglars with $50,000 reward - LA Daily News - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Vehicle covered with anti-Muslim slurs in Rundle; police say hateful ... - Calgary Herald - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- At Issue: Should Cobb County consider uniform public comment rules? - Atlanta Journal Constitution - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Spend tax dollars on addiction wisely - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Jeff Sessions & David Shapiro & the Rule of Law | National Review - National Review - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Schenectady man sentenced to 7 years in prison for child porn - Albany Times Union - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Making Whitefish best it can be - The Missoulian - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Letter: Judges should get say in drug sentencing - Times Herald-Record - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Allison Hanes: Disgrace is the deterrent for Applebaum - Montreal Gazette - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Independent business owners thank police and the ECHO for ending burglary "epidemic" - Liverpool Echo - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Hertfordshire Copp family jailed for 27 years for 45 million payroll tax fraud - Hertfordshire Mercury - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Police hunting rail cable thieves who caused travel disruptions in Sheffield - The Star - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Alleged Yahoo hacker Karim Baratov will stay in jail as he awaits extradition hearing - CBC.ca - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Rockland's chief detective retiring after 45 years investigating murders, corruption - The Journal News / Lohud.com - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Accused hacker will remain in custody after appeal of bail decision ... - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]
- The extent to which a state should exist - Being Libertarian - June 11th, 2017 [June 11th, 2017]
- Man gets 8 years for pandering - Martins Ferry Times Leader - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Child porn, prostitution sting nets 4 | News, Sports, Jobs - Leader ... - Gloversville Leader-Herald - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Rebel With a Cause: The One Conservative Who Voted For Legal Pot - Marijuana.com - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Students For Liberty's Ethan Pritchard wants students to have carry-conceal on campus - Rare.us - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Crash That Killed Chehalis Motorcyclist - Centralia Chronicle - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Sporting clubs devastated by senseless vandalism - Coffs Coast Advocate - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Man had indecent images of children on his mobile phone - South Wales Argus - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Cwmbran man had 132 indecent images of children on his mobile ... - South Wales Argus - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Stolen vehicles in Pueblo contribute to higher insurance rates - Pueblo Chieftain - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]