Par
Adele Leberre
Published on
Dec 23 2024 at 5:05 p.m.
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In recent days, a cable theft deprived the residents of Mellac, Le Trévoux, Saint-Thurien and Bannalec of internet. One of the perpetrators appeared on Monday December 23, 2024 before the Quimper court (Finistère).
The theft took place on December 19 at Mellac.
That evening, the defendant was at his sister's house with his 17-year-old nephew. After a few beers, the two men leave and start cutting and removing cables. Orange spotted the theft and notified the Quimperlé gendarmerie, who immediately arrested the two men, from the Traveler community.
600 m of copper cables, nearly 2 km of optical fiber
The soldiers found on the ground and in their two vehicles 600 m of copper cables, nearly 2 km of optical fiber, gloves covered in mud, a crowbar, a hood…
The 38-year-old defendant does not dispute the facts, but downplays them: “A plate was lifted, the cables were partly out. » His 17-year-old nephew also recognizes the facts. He will be summoned before the children's judge in Vannes.
The accused struggled to justify this theft:
“I didn't have much money, I was approaching Christmas, I wanted to give my children presents, I saw these cables…”
“A meager loot”
The president of the Quimper court Céline Verny questioned him about the resale. The man remained evasive, spoke of a sale in “the squares and in the camps”, spoke of a price range between 2.20 and 6 euros per kg of cables. A quick calculation by the defendant's lawyer estimated “the possible gains at 2000 euros to be shared between two people. It's a very meager haul. »
Beyond the cost, the president insisted on the harm for Orange customers who were deprived of the internet. The thirty-year-old assured that he did not know the usefulness of these cables. “Finally, Sir…. Do you think it's decorative? », the president said.
A criminal record as long as an arm
The prosecutor was also quite angry: “It's appalling to see your attitude when you're not working, you have a criminal record as long as your arm, a probationary sentence which you don't take into account. » She requested 30 months in prison and confiscation of the vehicle.
The defendant's lawyer tried to soften the sentence by indicating that his client “does not have the criminal record of a thief, he respects his legal obligations, he has addiction treatment…”
The court did not hear it. He sentenced the scrap dealer to two years in prison with warrant of committal and 500 euros in compensation. The civil interests for the Orange company were postponed to a later hearing.
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