AN OPPORTUNISTIC thief who stole big brand items, including a high-value computer and designer aftershave, while on trains in South Wales has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Bradley Southall, of Cromwell Road, Milford Haven, committed the thefts on board two different train services on December 4, 2015. The first took place on a train between Swansea and Cardiff, while the second was on a service from Cardiff to Milford Haven.
Among the items stolen was a holdall containing a MacBook Pro, an Xbox games console with two controllers and leads, deodorant, aftershave and clothing. He also tried stealing a can of lager from the on-train buffet trolley during the course of the journey.
Suspicion was raised when the train guard spotted 40-year-old Southall rummaging through the contents of a bag. One of the victims then reported to the guard that she had found her bag in the toilets with its contents strewed on the floor.
Police were alerted and officers met the train at Haverfordwest, where Southall was arrested and searched. He was subsequently found to be in possession of a bottle of Paco Rabanne aftershave, a MacBook Pro, Xbox and various items of clothing.
At Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on February 9, Southall was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work on behalf of the community and told to pay £85 costs.
Speaking after sentencing, investigating officer PC Darron Sandell said: “Southall is an opportunistic thief concerned only with his own gain. He showed no remorse for his actions and spun a web of lies to officers throughout the investigation; having initially said the Xbox belonged to his son and the MacBook was his brother’s, he then changed his story, claiming he’d bought them after being offered the items for £200 by a man on the train.
“This case should serve as a stark warning to anyone who even considers removing someone else’s property from a train with the intention of keeping it for themselves. The railway network is a CCTV-rich environment and it is simply not worth the risk: you will be identified and you will be caught.
“British Transport Police works hard to reduce the theft of passenger property. Even though South Wales is one of the safest places in the UK to live and work, it’s always worth reminding passengers to keep their belongings nearby when travelling and, where possible, to always keep their luggage in sight.”
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