CABLE theft from Blackburn railway sidings cost the train company nearly half a million pounds in lost income.

Blackburn magistrates heard cable had been burnt, cut and then removed from sidings in Taylor Street.

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A 21-year-old man appeared before the court and admitted stealing cable worth £2,500 belonging to Network Rail.

But Damian Pickup, defending, said his client did not accept the initial damage to the cable which, he said caused the problems.

"He admits removing cable by hand and selling to a scrap merchant," said Mr Pickup."He had nothing to do with the burning or cutting up of the cable."

Reece Anthony Finley, 21, of Young Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to theft of cable.

The case was adjourned for the defence to view CCTV evidence and submit a basis of plea for consideration by the prosecution.

The magistrates will then hear representations on whether the case should be finalised at the magistrates or the crown court.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said based on the Crown's case sentencing should take place at the crown court.

"There has been significant damage caused which had lead to considerable costs and loss of income for the rail company," said Mr Harrison. "The cable stolen was worth £2,500 and the cost of repairs was £14,000 but the cost to Network Rail because of cancellations and delays is in excess of £416,000. The basis on which he pleads guilty is not acceptable."

Mr Pickup said Finley had gone to investigate when he saw a couple of fires near the railway line.

"All the cable had already been burnt and cut," said Mr Pickup. "He accepts that on a few occasions he has returned to the sidings and removed quantities of cable which he has then sold."

Mr Pickup said the incident had resulted in 5,000 minutes of delays on the railway at a cost of nearly £500,000.

"The losses have been caused by the burning and cutting of the cable and he can't be held responsible for that," said Mr Pickup.

Rachel Groves, a spokeswoman for Network Rail said that a national program and working group were put in place to tackle cable theft.

She said: "Network Rail has worked with suppliers and other industries to make metal, particularly our cables, harder to steal and easier to identify and had teams around the network looking at new ways of working to reduce delay and fix thefts more quickly.

"In the north west, cameras and traceable solutions were deployed under specific targeted covert operations.

"This was done in conjunction with the British Transport Police (BTP) who had images fed direct to their officers who were able to respond.

"The theft of cable in Blackburn this year had a significant impact causing over 4000 delay minutes.

"This incident alone cost over £110,000 of taxpayers money and this is money that could have been invested in the railway to make improvements.

"Work was also done targeting the scrap metal dealers who traded in the stolen cable, this has led to a decrease in cable theft."