FORMER WELSH PREMIER STAR ONE OF THREE MEN JAILED
AFORMER footballer was the “ringleader” of a plot to steal more than £100,000 worth of farm machinery “to order”.
Richard “Ricky” Lee Evans, an ex Oldham Athletic and Welsh Premier League footballer, is one of three men sentenced to a total of seven years four months for their part in the plot.
A tractor, digger, quad bike and trailers were just some of the items taken from agricultural communities in Gwynedd, Wrexham and Denbighshire between 2017 and 2018.
Evans, 43, who played for Airbus, Bangor City and Rhyl was jailed for three years, three months.
Shane Jones, 30, of Hywelfa, Wrexham, was jailed for 28 months for his lesser involvement.
John Price, 29, of a caravan site in Lodge Road, Telford, involved in two incidents, was sent to prison for two years.
A proceeds of crime application will be made by the prosecution.
They admitted conspiracy to steal.
Judge Niclas Parry at Caernarfon crown court told them: “You have admitted your parts in what was nothing less than a professional, sophisticated, wellplanned conspiracy targeting the remote agricultural industry.
“It was aimed deliberately at the theft of extremely high-value goods.
“I have little doubt that these were goods stolen to order for customers ready to receive what had been taken.
“There were elements of sophistication, registration plates had been removed.”
The judge said it was so profitable that Evans, of Arfryn, Southsea, Wrexham, had been paying £300 a month for a unit to store stolen property.
The offence was aggravated by the effect on the agricultural community.
“We have heard the severe financial effect upon the individuals who are the victims,” Judge Parry added.
Prosecuting counsel John Philpotts said the trio admitted a conspiracy to steal machinery between October 2017 and November 2018.
A tractor and cutter had been stolen from Bala.
Mr Philpotts said an Iveco truck and an Audi car had been travelling in convoy.
Three ornamental stone troughs worth £1,500 vanished at Oswestry, steel from Bangor-onDee, machinery which would cost £100,000 to replace from Broxton in Cheshire, a trailer from Denbigh, a £14,000 digger at Corwen, and another trailer from Bala.
Police found the steel, a trailer and troughs during a search in September 2018.
But a £5,000 quad bike was then stolen at Machynlleth.
Mr Philpotts said it had a tracking device and this led police to Jones’s property and a van.
Andrew Green, defending, said Evans had been respected by those at the football club.
“His biggest regret now are the implications for his family,” the barrister said.
“He has a wife, they have five children.
“There clearly is a very different side Evans.”
John Hedgecoe, counsel for Jones, said he was hardworking.
“He’s keen to make a fresh start to provide for his family,” counsel declared.
Jemma Gordon, for Price, said he was involved in two out of eight thefts.
He worked for a scaffolding firm and there were financial reasons for his behaviour. to Ricky