Ryan Brazil (24), Martin Goodwin (27), Ronnie Smith (26) and Carl Brazil (18), all of Highgrove Lane, Minsterworth, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday, 4 June, having pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to fraudulent trading.
Martin Goodwin was sentenced to 16 months in custody.
Ronnie Smith was given a 10-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, plus 200 hours community service.
Ryan Brazil was given a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months, plus 200 hours community service.
Carl Brazil was sentenced to a 12-month community order and an 80-hour skills programme requirement.
The court heard the four men had been involved in a wide-ranging fraud, dating between September 2009 and July 2013, to pose as contractors to steal waste industrial batteries.
Once the batteries had been stolen, the four then travelled to a variety of scrap metal dealers to sell on the stolen merchandise – again posing as genuine contractors.
Detective Sergeant Anthony Jones, of British Transport Police’s National Metal Theft Team, said: “The activity of Brazil, Brazil, Smith and Goodwin came to our attention when they targeted industrial batteries from the rail network.
“Thanks to the work of the specialist metal theft Fusion Unit, an intelligence cell operated by BTP and partners as part of the National Metal Theft Taskforce, we were able to uncover countless other offences committed by the organised group.
“Our investigation revealed the four would operate independently, or in pairs, to travel to various depots across the country.
“Wearing branded outfits and arriving in liveried vehicles, the men posed as genuine contractors and convinced officials at the depots to allow them to take the valuable batteries. No company received money for the batteries which should have been sold to, and collected by, designated waste contractors.
“These batteries were then taken to scrap metal dealers who, acting in good faith, paid money to a group of men they thought were acting on behalf of bona fide contractors.
“In many cases the four also made sure they carried waste consignment notes and waste carrier licenses.
“As a result of the four-year offending spree, the four men defrauded a number of industries and companies of at least £100,000, though the true level of their offending is probably much higher – our investigation revealed the offenders managed to steal hundreds of batteries from a variety of sources including rail equipment, power companies, cars and forklift trucks.”
DS Jones added: “The criminal activity of the men has cost British industry a remarkable sum and, it seems, for years they thought they could act without fear of being brought to justice.
“Today’s sentencing proves that the criminal justice system, and the people it serves, will not sit idly whilst others seek to profit from offending behaviour.
“As well as the sentences handed down, the court has given leave to pursue a Proceeds of Crime Act case against Brazil, Brazil, Smith and Goodwin.
“This will be the culmination of a lengthy investigation which has seen BTP work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, colleagues from local police forces and a variety of industries. Without their help, dedication and willingness to work together we would not have been able to build such a strong case.
“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this investigation and, at the same time, send a message to anyone else who believes they can profit from metal theft of any kind – we will use every available, legal, method at our disposal to bring offenders to justice and, where possible, reclaim the assets they have amassed as a result of their criminal behaviour.”
Picture Gallery: Four sentenced for theft of industrial batteries on a national scale – Operation Amelia Ryan Brazil (24), Martin Goodwin (27), Ronnie Smith (26) and Carl Brazil (18), all of Highgrove Lane, Minsterworth, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday, 4 June, having pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to fraudulent trading.
