Church Warsop dog-walker used fracking firm's devices as bait boxes

A Church Warsop dog-walker who found scientific equipment belonging to a fracking company in a field, used two as bait boxes and sold the others on eBay for £30, a court heard.
Mansfield Magistrates CourtMansfield Magistrates Court
Mansfield Magistrates Court

Stephen Clarke stumbled across the four battery cases belonging to Ineos Upstream Services Ltd, in a field near his home, on January 11.

Prosecutor Neil Hollett said the cases, worth £724, were used to measure seismic activity.

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Mark Stocks, mitigating, said: “He picked them up and took them home. His intention was to use the cases to store his fishing tackle and bits and pieces.

“He sold two on eBay for £15 apiece.

“There is nothing to suggest that they were part of this company’s scientific seismic research.”

He said the court should deal with Clark as a man of previous good character, who should receive credit for his early guilty plea.

“This was a theft by finding rather than theft,” Mr Stocks added.

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Clarke, 56, of Grove Road, Church Warsop, admitted theft by finding, when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Wednesday.

He was given a conditional discharge for six months and told to pay £100 compensation to the firm, as well as a £20 government surcharge