Men jailed over travellers’ thefts and wrecking spree at brewery

A WRECKING spree at a brewery occupied by a 100-strong group of travellers brought an “unpleasant end” to 200 years of production at the site, a judge has said.

A convoy of up to 30 caravans and 100 travellers entered Thwaites Brewery in Blackburn, Lancashire, last May after a padlock was cut at the yard entrance and the security guard was thrown out.

Thomas Ward, 44, inset, then led negotiations with Thwaites bosses for the group to leave the brewery, but only if £20,000 was paid.

Burnley Crown Court heard that management was able to find £10,000, but when that amount was offered Ward swore and warned “not to insult them”.

As the negotiations became more protracted, the travellers then caused £313,000 of damage to the premises when Ward realised he was not going to get £20,000. Staff and police finally gained full access to the Penny Street brewery on May 28, and the travellers left later the same day under police escort – with some vehicles “heavily laden down with items”, the court heard. Among items stolen were four-and-half tonnes of copper cabling – along with televisions, computer equipment, cash, port, wine and spirits.

Police raids took place on June 26 in Levershulme Park in Bolton, where a search of Ward’s caravan uncovered £1,725 in cash and a Samsung phone containing images of a newspaper article and a TV bulletin on the Thwaites incident. Sentencing Thomas Ward to four years and three months in jail, Judge Andrew Woolman said: “A conspiracy was formed to steal what was available and to cause a considerable amount of damage on the way.”

Thwaites had been due to move to a new complex in Lancashire around 12 weeks after the incident, but was forced to terminate operations early.

The court heard the firm’s chief executive Richard Bailey was “extremely stressed” and felt “powerless” at the time in the face of the increasingly aggressive behaviour by the travellers.

Ward, of Leigh, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to blackmail, conspiracy to burgle Thwaites and conspiracy to commit criminal damage. John Ward, 34, of Aspull Common, also admitted conspiracy to burglary and commit damage and was jailed for three years and nine months.