Worksop: Scrap man bought back batteries he had stolen

James Newbury, 24, pleaded guilty to the theft of the 10 vehicle batteries belonging to Johnsons Brothers Tours when he appeared at Worksop Magistrates’ Court last week.

Prosecutor Ruth Snodin said the manager of the company is responsible for the scrapping of vehicle components, and saw that the batteries had disappeared.

He visited a scrap metal merchants, who told him they had purchased the batteries the day before from Newbury.

In interview, Newbury told police an employee at Johnsons Brothers Tours had told him they had got no scrap metal, but did have some used batteries.

Mrs Snodin said: “When he was questioned further, he admitted the employee had not given them permission to take them. “He had just presumed he could take them.”

Defence solicitor Andrew Bevan said: “He is a self employed scrap merchant. On the day in question he had gone and enquired about scrap for sale.”

He told magistrates that Newbury had bought the batteries back from the merchants and given them back to the company.

Newbury, of Hardwick Road East, Worksop, was given a six month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Magistrates told Newbury: We are very impressed with the measures you went to to rectify your mistake .”