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Gloucestershire Business News

Man jailed for stealing lead from Cheltenham school roof

A Bristol man who went on the run after he admitted stealing lead from the roof of a Cheltenham independent school whilst the headmaster and his family slept inside has been jailed.

Ashley Miles, 21, of Tomarton Crescent, Henbury, was jailed for eleven months after he was arrested and brought to Gloucester crown court

Jordan Moore, 22, of Delabere Avenue, Oldbury Court, and Daniel Asher, 32, of Guinea Lane, Bristol were sentenced in January for stealing lead from the roof of St Edwards Preparatory School in Cheltenham on 6th July 2017.

Moore was jailed for six months and Asher for eight months at the earlier hearing.

The cost of the repair to the school approached £8,500.

The court heard that at 2.10am on 6th July 2017 the headmaster called the police, as he thought the house that he and his family lived in was being broken into.

In fact lead was being stripped from the roof 'in quite large quantities', by the three thieves

When the police arrived nobody was there, but the gang came back and the police were called once more.

The court heard there was 'extensive removal of lead'.

Two pairs of tin snippers and bottle of soft drink were found at the scene.

The police spotted a Mercedes van found a short distance away with the three thieves in it, pretending to be asleep.

The three were all arrested and made no comment at interview but were forensically linked to the crime by DNA tests.

The court heard the school was a listed building, and the prosecution case was that were elements of 'professionalism' in the raid.

The court heard that Asher had 31 previous convictions for 63 offences; Miles had 12 convictions for 19 offences and Moore 2 for 3 offences.

Prosecutor, George Threlfall said Miles had 'A large number of antecedents for a young man'.

Imposing the jail term, Judge Jason Taylor QC told Miles: "You and two others went to a school site on 6th July.

"You knew exactly what you were going to do.

"A family was asleep inside the house. Significant planning had gone into it."

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