Four Grangetown men appear in court after admitting trying to steal copper from SSI steel plant

Four men have appeared in court after trying to steal copper from the SSI steel plant.

Brothers Mark Anthony Caswell, 29, and Stephen Michael Caswell, 36, along with Jonathon Kevin Douglas, 25 and Aaron Stevenson, 22, had pleaded guilty to non-dwelling burglary at an earlier hearing.

The four had gone to the SSI plant off the Trunk Road, between Grangetown and Redcar, on January 7 this year.

Police were called on the afternoon and discovered that transformers containing copper wire had been moved from a brick pen, but nobody was found, said prosecutor Alan Davison.

But three hours later police were called again and the four were caught near a pen.

Mr Davison said: “All four gave no comment in interview. There was no damage done, and no copper actually taken.”

District Judge Martin Walker heard that only two defendants, Mark Caswell, of Eversham Road, Grangetown, and Aaron Stevenson, of Bolckow Road, Grangetown, had co-operated with the Probation Service ahead of the hearing.

He said that Douglas, of Buttermere Road, Grangetown and Stephen Caswell, of Cresswell Road, Grangetown, had shown a “degree of unpleasantness” while the Probation Service attempted to produce a report.

He bailed them to attend another appointment on Friday morning, and to return to court at 2pm that day for sentence.

Mitigating, John Nixon said that Aaron Stevenson had never appeared before the courts before, while Mark Caswell had a “light record” and last committed an offence in 2011.

Mr Nixon said: “Mr Stevenson has never been in trouble before. This was just after Christmas, and he needed money for his family. He has recently started work as a doorman.

“His probation report shows that he knows the effect of what he has done on his family and society.”

District Judge Walker gave them both a community order with 60 hours of unpaid work and said: “I think it is rather unfortunate you both should be here for an offence of this nature.

“For your own sake, it needs to be the last time.

“Unfortunately Mr Stevenson, you will it very difficult to get legitimate door work now.”