Man convicted of stealing historic coping stones from Rufford

Summarised from Lancashire Telegraph's report · Updated 20 Oct, 15:50 · Archive

A man has been sentenced for stealing coping stones from historic boundary walls in Rufford, Lancashire, after residents placed tracking devices in vulnerable stones.

Craig Barker of Tan House Drive, Wigan pleaded guilty at Wigan Magistrates' Court on 16 October to two counts of theft and one count of handling stolen goods relating to thefts from historic boundary walls in the Rufford area during 2025. The investigation proved challenging because the locations were remote with no CCTV or forensic opportunities.

In response, community members placed discreet tracking devices inside vulnerable coping stones. After further stones were stolen overnight on 25 October, including one containing a tracker, officers from the South Rural Task Force followed its location to Barker's home address. A substantial quantity of previously stolen coping stones, estimated to be worth around £7,000, was recovered.

Barker was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended for 22 months, and ordered to pay a financial penalty. Magistrates heard evidence about the impact the thefts had on the local community and the damage caused to the area's rural heritage.

Read the report

• How residents’ clever tactic helped police catch historic stone thiefA man has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting stealing coping stones from historic boundary walls in Rufford, LancashireLancashire Telegraph · 20 Oct, 15:00

In this story: Craig Barker · Wigan Magistrates' Court · Rufford · Lancashire · South Rural Task Force

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