'Inept' gang who targeted Welsh power station went on to leave some obvious clues behind

A hapless gang that included Wylfa nuclear power station in their string of botched heists left behind DNA and tools at the scenes of their crimes. The four men, had travelled from Manchester to target industrial sites on Anglesey, where graffiti and faeces were left at the sites.

The crooks claimed to police they were on the island either to "explore" or for a football match, reports North Wales Live. But an angle grinder found in their possession suggested otherwise, as noted wryly by the judge during sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court.

Despite the three out of four culprits receiving jail time, the court acknowledged the significant delays in prosecution for the offences committed between 2019 and 2020, which were only partially attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prosecutor James Coutts detailed how the gang pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle three industrial locations - Orthios Eco Park in Holyhead, Wylfa power station in Cemaes Bay, and the old Welsh Country Foods abattoir site in Gaerwen, from August 3, 2019, to February 16, 2020.

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Coutts said John Whyte, aged 51, Gillan Gregory, 35, and Christopher Clark, 34, broke into Orthios Eco Park on the night of August 10, 2019, attempting to steal copper cables valued between £3,000 and £4,000 while avoiding live wires. Their rented van, linked to Gillan Gregory, was connected to the scene through ANPR along with mobile phone records. Subsequently, on August 17, staff discovered a break-in at Wylfa site. Burglars had attempted to steal copper but were scared off. The staff relayed the van's details to the authorities.

The police utilised ANPR technology to intercept the burglars on the A55 at Northop in Flintshire at 5am. Officers discovered the culprits, including an accomplice named Jeff Gregory, aged 30, along with power tools inside their vehicle, the court heard.

They claimed to the officers that they had visited Anglesey for exploration and a game of football. However, upon further investigation, it was revealed that copper valued at £10,000 had been taken from Wylfa.

A hacksaw found amidst the wiring bore Whyte's DNA. Despite being released on bail, Whyte, Clark, and Gillan Gregory committed another offence.

On January 22, 2020, a caretaker at the now-defunct Welsh Country Foods abattoir in Gaerwen noticed the disappearance of copper piping. The electricity had been cut, and a substantial quantity of copper had been moved towards a fence, ready to be loaded onto a vehicle.

Police seized a Jaguar 4x4, which had been rented by Gillan Gregory. However, the three men returned to the Gaerwen site on January 26, attempting to take additional copper worth £100,000, and made another attempt in February.

This time, the police located their 4x4 car nearby, with Gillan Gregory and Clark - covered in mud - trying to extricate the vehicle from a ditch. When officers revisited the old abattoir, they discovered "faecal matter" left by Gregory.

Graffiti initials were also spotted at one of the crime scenes. Ember Wong, defending Whyte and Clark, argued that they had come from Manchester to north Wales targeting "partially abandoned sites (of) faceless corporations".

They considered these acts to be "almost victimless crimes", displaying a lack of sophistication and giving no thought to forensic evidence, the barrister said.

At one stage, Whyte accepted penalty points for Gillan Gregory's speeding in a "misguided" attempt to aid a friend. Ms Wong highlighted the significant delay since the offences occurred.

The court heard Whyte had been an addict and now expresses remorse, while Clark developed a gambling problem after his mother died. John Wyn Williams, representing Gillan Gregory, acknowledged that the men were motivated by financial gain. However, he pointed out that his client has changed considerably over the past four or five years and now operates his own landscaping business.

Elen Owen, the barrister for Jeff Gregory, argued that her client was simply "swept along" with the group. He is currently undertaking courses to work with a railway maintenance firm.

The judge his Honour Timothy Petts addressed Whyte, Clark, and Gregory, noting that each claimed the plan was the others' idea, but remarked, "it can't all have been everybody else's idea". He also mentioned the discovery of an electric saw and a grinder in their van on the A55, items not typically associated with urban exploring or football.

The judge acknowledged their "ineptitude" due to leaving behind DNA and personal graffiti, yet recognised that there was still an element of planning. He sentenced Christopher Clark, from Mount Road, Manchester, to 30 months in prison for conspiring to commit burglary with intent to steal.

Gillan Gregory, from Thorpness Square, Stockport, received a 27-month sentence for conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal, with an additional six months for perverting the course of justice related to the speeding points incident.

John Whyte, from Oldham Drive, Woodley, Stockport, was also sentenced to 27 months for conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal and an additional six months for perverting the course of justice.

Jeff Gregory, from Chain Bar Way, Mottram, received a suspended sentence of nine months for attempted theft, which will be held over for 18 months due to potential for rehabilitation. However, he is required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.