Pair jailed for £53,000 IT raids

Computers were stolen from Aberystwyth University's Llanbadarn campus

Two men who stole more than £53,000 worth of computers and other equipment from schools and Aberystwyth University have been jailed.

Andrew Powell, 29, of no fixed abode and Daniel Wren, 21, from Beaumaris, Anglesey, admitted a series of burglaries in mid and south west Wales.

Powell was jailed for three-and-a-half years and Wren for 18 months at Swansea Crown Court.

The court heard that they also burgled caravans, a college and a business.

Their haul of computers and other equipment was valued at more than £53,000, but very little of it was recovered, the court was told.

The equipment was taken during September and October last year.

Nine computers

Chris Clee, prosecuting, said Powell entered the buildings while Wren acted as a driver and a look-out.

The court was told that the burglaries started on 19 September when they stole equipment worth £7,332 from Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan.

During the night of 2 October, the pair raided Aberystwyth University's Llanbadarn campus, taking £10,180 worth of equipment.

Four days later they broke into the Aber Tech premises on the town's Glanyafon industrial estate, stealing a large quantity of computers.

On 18 October they raided Penparcau Infants' School in Aberystwyth and stole an overhead projector, the court was told.

Mr Clee said the night they were arrested they had burgled a building on Penglais campus at Aberystwyth University, and were caught with nine computers and two laptops in the Volvo car they were using.

During police questioning Powell and Wren also admitted breaking into Queen Elizabeth High School in Carmarthen.

Powell also confessed to raiding Cambrian Printers in Aberystwyth and Ysgol y Preseli in Crymych, Pembrokeshire, alone.

Meanwhile, Mr Clee said Wren admitted breaking into a number of caravans at New Quay and Aberporth in Ceredigion.