Crooks ‘posed as workmen to dig up pavement and divert electricity’

Three men put on high-viz jackets and dug up a pavement in central Blackpool to allegedly try and divert electricity for illegal use.

They put safety barriers up and then began to use a pneumatic drill, managing to dig a two-foot hole in the tarmac.

When questioned by a police officer about what they were doing, they claimed to be fixing a water leak – but inquiries showed this was not the case.

One of the men, Ryan Eden, 24, was arrested at the scene and pleaded guilty to digging the hole at Blackpool Magistrates Court, where he was sentenced on Thursday.

The court heard how the men had falsely claimed to be subcontracted to a London firm called W. D. Utilities.

Officers also found a quantity of armoured electric cabling in their Ford Transit van and suspected the men were involved in a bid to divert electricity for illegal use.

Trevor Colebourne, defending, said Eden was unaware of the reason for the dig and claimed he had merely been asked to carry out the job by ‘a friend of a friend’.

He added: ‘He is a labourer and was told he would be digging. There were no questions asked.

‘He went along for the ride, but as for what was going on and any profits made from the dig, that is down to the others.’

Eden was fined £326, and magistrates also confiscated the jackhammer and compressor, as well as the hi-viz jackets, safety barriers and shovels.

The court heard the two other men remain under investigation, and police believe they might be linked to similar incidents reported in other areas.

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