Loglin Uta, 37, of Mighell Avenue, Redbridge, was given a six-week suspended sentence, 150 hours of community service and £3,120 worth of fines after being found guilty of stealing cable from the railway depot where he worked as a carpenter.

A court heard how Uta, who worked at the Amey rail depot in Oxford, stole £5,000 worth of disused copper cable in January this year.

Uta accessed the depot by breaking through the perimeter fence before cutting a large hole in the back of the steel container containing the cable.

Officers were able to obtain witness statements which placed a van hired by Uta in Oxford at the time of the theft.

Analysis of Uta’s phone records also placed him in the area of the depot between 6.30pm on January 11 and 3am the following morning – times when he was not working.

Uta denied any part in the crime, but was found guilty of theft.

Uta was sentenced at Oxford and Southern Oxfordshire Magistrates’ Court on September 17.

Speaking after sentencing, Sgt David Morris, from the British Transport Police, said: “Uta was in a position of trust, but he chose to abuse that position by using his knowledge of the site to steal valuable cable.

“Cable theft costs the rail industry hundreds of thousands of pounds, and compromises the safety of everyone who uses the rail network.

“As this case shows, we continue to work hard to ensure they are brought before the courts.”