1. THREE men who stole thousands of
pounds worth of plumbing materials from
their employers and sold them on have
been told they were lucky to escape jail.
Ian Unwin, 25, of Grange Court, Tewkesbury,
Christopher Henry, 25, of Burford Road, Eve-
Character references
save thieves from jail
USING resources unsustainably will end up
literally costing us the Earth - a top Govern-
ment minister has warned.
Hilary Benn MP, secretary of state for the
environment, food and rural communities,
gave the stark warning during a visit to
Jutexpo Ltd near Broadway on Thursday
(November 6).
The company, which makes reusable
bags using fibres from natural fibre jute,
was recently named one of the top 12 green
business pioneers in the 2008 Barclays
Commercial Bank Green Leaders in Busi-
ness Awards.
And Mr Benn said the company’s prod-
ucts were a practical example of how people
can make a change in the way they use
natural resources.
“Recycling of household waste has more
than quadrupled in the last ten years so it
shows what can be done both by local au-
thorities and by us as householders choos-
ing to separate our dry waste,” he said.
“It’s if we carry on using resources
unsustainably that it will end up costing us
the Earth.”
But the MP for Leeds Central said he did
not think the credit crunch and the rising
costs of fuel would put people off using their
local recycling centres.
“Local authorities have a very strong
incentive to make recycling happen because
of the landfill levy,” Mr Benn said.
“We can’t go on putting rubbish in holes
in the ground because we’ll run out of space
and of course stuff dumped in landfill pro-
duces methane and that’s a very powerful
greenhouse gas which adds to the problem
of climate change and global warming.
“I think despite the credit crunch and
Minister stresses need to recycle
Founder of Jutexpo, Barrie Turner, with Hilary
Benn MP, secretary of state for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs. Picture by Lucy Ford 46.08.010.lf
financial difficulties, if we can use resources
more effectively and more sustainably, in the
end that helps you to cut your costs whether as
a business or as a householder.”
sham, and Steven Taylor, 23, of Abbots
Leys Road, Winchcombe, all admitted
conspiring to steal stock from the Plumb-
ing Centre in Bourton-on-the-Water where
they all worked.
But Judge Martin Picton, at Gloucester
Crown Court, told the men their previous
good character and excellent references
sent in by friends and family, plus the fact
they were unlikely to offend again, meant
he could suspend their prison sentences.
Unwin, who was the store manager, also
admitted fraud by issuing credit notes to
himself for property which had supposed-
ly been returned by customers and asked
for three other offences to be taken into
consideration, and was sentenced to one
year in prison suspended for two years,
with one year to run concurrently for the
second offence, and 300 hours unpaid
work.
Taylor and Henry were each given five
months suspended for a year plus 160
hours of unpaid work, and all three were
also made the subject of curfews.
Prosecutor Julian Kesner said although
it could only be proved that the fraud in-
volved £13,000, there was £45,000 worth
of stock unaccounted for from May to
August, and he added that Unwin was the
instigator.
Barry Newton, defending all three men,
told the court none had ever been in trou-
ble with the police before, and handed the
judge character references from people
who could not believe they had been in-
volved in the fraud.
Judge Picton told the trio: “You all be-
haved appallingly, but I do not think you
will ever offend again.”
The Observer, Wednesday November 12, 2008 PAGE 11
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