Electric shock metal thief jailed for Salford raid

A man who suffered an electric shock while trying to steal £50 worth of metal from an electricity sub station in Salford has been jailed.

Martin Gavin, 46, of Hope Hey Lane, Little Hulton, suffered severe burns and blood loss when he broke into the site in Rake Lane, Clifton, last June.

He was found guilty of burglary and sentenced to three years in jail at Manchester Crown Court.

Gavin was helped by Michael Seward, 51, and security guard Ross Cahill, 24.

Seward, of Old Lane, Little Hulton, also admitted to burglary at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to three years.

Cahill, of Pemberton Street, Little Hulton, worked at the site that was formerly used by Pilkington's Tiles.

He admitted burglary and perverting the course of justice and was ordered to serve three years behind bars.

Greater Manchester Police said the substation was being used by a small tile company that operated 24 hours a day.

The incident and subsequent loss of power cost them £100,000 and although they were covered by their insurance, it took almost a year to be compensated and nearly led to the closure of the company and the loss of 40 jobs.

At the time of the incident, on 16 June 2011, Gavin and Seward were on a curfew following a previous metal theft offence.

They used an abandoned pallet truck and crow bar to force open the sub station, before Gavin used a socket set to open the equipment inside and suffered an electric shock.

Seward dragged him to the security cabin where he fled, leaving Cahill to call an ambulance.

Gavin was critically injured and spent a month in hospital after the incident.