A man has been jailed for 12 months for attempting to steal cable from a Crossrail project.

Georginel–Fernando Ciuflea, 20, of Manor Road, Leyton, was sentenced to a young offenders institution at Blackfriars Crown Court last Thursday.

He had been arrested by British Transport Police (BTP) on February 18 after they found him roaming around near the railway in Romford.

A BTP spokeswoman said: “When asked what he was doing, he said he was going to his friend’s house, but could not provide his friend’s name or address.

“Officers searched him and found him in possession of a hacksaw, gaffer tape and heavy duty gloves.

“He was arrested and later charged.”

An investigation revealed that Ciuflea had been captured on wildlife cameras in the area, and on the footage a noise consistent with cable being thrown on the embankment could be heard.

Police later uncovered a cut piece of cable, approximately 30 metres long, to the value of £400.

But with labour added, costs to replace the cable could exceed £100,000.

Investigating officer, Det Con Adrienne Curzon, said: “Ciuflea was stealing cable from the Cross Rail project in the Romford area, costing Network Rail hundreds of thousands of pounds to replace the stolen cable.

“Cable and metal theft has a serious impact on the smooth running of the rail network.

“Thieves like Ciuflea risk not only a prison sentence, but also their lives attempting to steal cable and precious metals from the railway.

“Thanks to some good work by the arresting officers who stopped Ciuflea while on patrol one night and the subsequent investigation, he has now been sentenced to a year in prison.

“I hope this will deter him from attempting such a dangerous and stupid crime again.

“This case is a good example of how we work with Network Rail, local police forces, other enforcement agencies and the legitimate metals recycling trade to tackle metal theft through enforcement, education and deterrence.”

Ciuflea had pleaded earlier guilty at Blackfriars Crown on 20 March to one count of attempted theft including theft by finding.