Pylon climber is jailed for stealing electricity

A PROTESTER who brought the town to a standstill when he climbed to the top of a 120ft pylon has been jailed – for electricity theft.

Wayne Boyd, 36, of Grimshaw Avenue, Bollington, was jailed for 18 weeks after admitting the offence of dishonestly causing to be wasted or diverting a quantity of electricity.

The sentence included six weeks for electricity theft and the 12 weeks suspended prison sentence he received for the offence of causing a public nuisance, when he scaled an electricity pylon near to AstraZeneca at Hurdsfield on January 20, causing traffic chaos for morning commuters.

The dad of two, who volunteers with Cheshire Streetwise at Elim Church, in Macclesfield, has battled depression and alcoholism for a number of years.

Boyd featured in the Express on March 2 and apologised for the chaos his protest caused.

But he also stood by his actions saying he was taking a stand against the mental health support and care he had received.

He appeared at Crewe magistrates court in custody on March 4 and was jailed.