Following a significant disruption in Wakefield last year due to cable theft, a man has been jailed.

£57,000 in damages were caused on the 19th May 2025 following the theft at Oakenshaw Junction.

Police attended the site after a report was made, where they found Andrew Holland near the track.

He was found near a large fire, where he was arrested with a box cutter he used to strip cable.

At the end of last month, the 38-year-old was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to 20 months in prison and pay a fine.

“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.”

Olga Barannikova, Network Rail area customer service & performance manager