Workers clearing Somerdale site in Keynsham caught stealing scrap - by Bristol Evening Post

TWO employees who were helping clear the Cadbury factory in Keynsham after it was closed down by Kraft stole scrap metal worth more than £5,000 from the site.

A hearing at Bristol Crown Court was told Drillcut employees Hayden Drewitt, 46, and Martyn Gooding, 32, were brought in by Euro Dismantling Services (EDS) to help cut down copper overhead power cables.

But after concerns were raised a security guard was asked to stop and search Gooding's vehicle as it left the site and lengths of stolen copper cable were found.

Later a search of both men's addresses in Patchway found a substantial amount of stolen scrap metal in their garages.

Drewitt, of Durban Road and Gooding, of Cedar Close both later admitted a charge of theft.

Nadeem Aullybocus, prosecuting, said both men were long-serving employees of Drillcut.

He said a new site manager because suspicious and in January a security guard was told to stop and search Gooding's vehicle as it left the Somerdale site.

"After the cables were found in the vehicle both men were arrested," Mr Aullybocus said.

"Searches were conducted at the homes of both defendants and scrap metal was found in both their garages.

"EDS valued the metal at £8,863 although the defendant's have pleaded guilty on the basis that it is worth £5,000."

Mr Aullybocus said Drewitt had no previous convictions and that Gooding had a very old conviction for criminal damage.

Nicola Hutchinson, defending both men, said they had entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity.

Judge Martin Picton told Drewitt and Gooding: "You have both been astonishingly foolish given that you are in good employment. You treated your employer shoddily by behaving in this way."

Both men were given a community order with 160 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £160 costs.