Major theft uncovered at Trostre steel plant
A major theft case at Tata Steel’s Trostre site in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, has led to prison sentences for three workers and one accomplice after they stole around 50 tonnes of tin ingots worth nearly £1.2 million.
The crime took place between July 2023 and October 2024 and involved repeated removal of valuable metal from the steelworks.
How the operation worked
Court hearings revealed that Matthew Membury, aged 32, made multiple trips into the site using a transit van. He gained access with a fake ID that had been provided by security supervisor Stewart Jones.
When the plant was quiet, Membury was allowed entry and coordinated the removal of tin ingots.
Inside the facility, cast house supervisor Thomas Ashford used a forklift to load the tin into the van. After that, Membury drove the stolen material off-site and sold it to scrap dealers.
Stewart Jones also sent messages to warn when conditions were safe for the thefts to take place.
Payments and profit split
Investigators found that Membury received about £740,000 from scrap sales, but kept around £340,000 for himself.
Ashford took more than £250,000 from the operation.
Stewart Jones received over £80,000, while Richard Jones was paid around £60,000.
Arrest and discovery
The group was arrested in October 2024 after they were caught trying to leave the site with stolen tin.
Police also found three swords inside the back of Membury’s van during a follow up search.
Sentences handed down
At Swansea Crown Court, Thomas Ashford and Stewart Jones were both jailed for three years and four months.
Richard Jones received a 20 month suspended sentence, along with unpaid work and a curfew order.
Membury, who did not appear in court for sentencing, is already serving a separate 32 month prison term for arson. His new sentence will be added once he appears before the court.
Recovery of stolen money
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it will begin proceedings to recover the criminal proceeds from the case.
