A MAN arrested after a lengthy investigation into thefts from recycling centres has appeared in court.
Nathan Hallsworth, 32, received a two-year community order at Teesside Crown Court for his part in five of the crimes across North Yorkshire.
Car batteries, old televisions and mobile phones were among the things stolen for scrap from sites in Northallerton, Stokesley, Whitby, Harrogate and Tadcaster.
Hallsworth, from Batley, Leeds, admitted theft, and was also ordered to do 240 hours’ unpaid community work and pay £1,000 costs
He was told by Judge Howard Crowson: “I have no doubt you would say you were targeting scrap, but it had a value. Why else would you be targeting it?”
Graham Silvester, mitigating, said Hallsworth turned to the thefts last January when he had money problems, but now has a job paying up to £500 a week.
Hallsworth and an accomplice, who has gone on-the-run, were linked to the crimes by forensic evidence.
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