Railway cable thieves fled as accomplice was electrocuted

Electrocuted: police found James Smith's body outside an electricity substation
12 April 2012

Two thieves were facing a prison sentence today after leaving their dead accomplice by the side of a railway track when he was electrocuted as they stole copper cable.

Thousands of commuters on the busy south London line were stranded as police searched tracks around the Bromley substation where the raid took place, and found the body of James Smith.

The stolen cable was sold to a Peckham scrap dealer at about the time the body was discovered.
Jason Tusting, 23, of Honor Oak, and his brother John, 26, of Lee, were being sentenced today at Blackfriars crown court.

Both have admitted burglary and a charge of criminal damage recklessly endangering life. Jason Tusting has also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

The three men had broken into the remote track-side substation between Penge West and Sydenham to steal the copper strips at 5.30 one morning last December.

But in the raid Smith, 28, of Catford, was
electrocuted and John Tusting was seriously burned.

Jason Tusting dialled 999 anonymously, telling the ambulance service and police he was at Sydenham train station and had spotted a man who had been electrocuted by the side of the track.

He then agreed to help police, only to lie about what had happened and where. At the height of the morning rush hour, Smith's body was found outside the substation, where it had been dragged.

The court has heard that DNA traces on Smith's lips showed that Jason Tusting had tried to revive him before fleeing with his brother.

Inside the substation, cable was burnt and severed and copper strips were missing. Officers later found that the strips, covered in Jason Tusting's fingerprints, had been sold to a scrapyard for £340 at about 8.30 that morning.

After trawling local hospitals for a recently arrived patient with burn injuries, police found John Tusting and arrested him.

A total of 15 trains were delayed in the disruption. Two had to be terminated before their intended destination and two more were cancelled completely.

The power supply to the line was switched off for 30 minutes and electricians had to be called out to repair the damage to the substation.

After the case was opened the sentencing was adjourned until next month.

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