Twenty people have been charged following an investigation into the theft of approximately £1 million worth of plant machinery from hire companies across the UK – including alleged thefts in Cumbria.
Detectives from Cheshire Police have charged 20 people following an investigation into a series of plant machinery thefts spanning 19 counties, including Cumbria.
The 14 men and six women were all arrested during 2025 following a series of warrants carried out as part of an investigation by Cheshire Police’s Ellesmere Port Proactive CID.
The investigation covers incidents across Cumbria, Cheshire, Lancashire, Humberside, Hampshire, West Midlands, Hertfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Merseyside, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, West Mercia, Suffolk, Cornwall and Lincolnshire.
Police say approximately £1 million worth of plant equipment was stolen in the offences under investigation.
A detailed case file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which has now authorised charges against all 20 defendants.
The defendants are predominantly from Burnley, Padiham and the surrounding area, with the alleged offences covering periods between 2020 and 2025.
Those charged are:
James Bergquist, aged 46, of Sandiway, Huyton, Merseyside, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Handling stolen goods on 9 January 2021
• Handling stolen goods on 17 February 2022
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Thomas Howard, aged 34, of Burnley Road, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Natasha Taylor, aged 38, of Kay Street, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Madison Grattan, aged 30, of Sycamore Avenue, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
• Handling stolen goods on 17 February 2022
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
William Cross, aged 43, of Cog Lane, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
• Handling stolen goods on 17 February 2022
Stephen Simpson, aged 43, of Prestwich Street, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
• Handling stolen goods on 17 February 2022
Shaun Craig, aged 35, of Fielden Street, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
Carl Harwood, aged 31, of Burnley Road, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
Daniel Aston, aged 29, of Holcombe Drive, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
Alexandra Dodgeon, aged 29, of Sycamore Avenue, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
Lee Harrison, aged 40, of Woodleigh, Manchester Road, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
Francis Maughan, aged 29, of Canal Street, Church, Accrington, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 30 September 2020 and 25 September 2023
• Conspiracy to commit a burglary other than a dwelling with intent to steal on 6 July 2022
Ryan Williamson, aged 45, of Milton Street, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Brian Finnigan, aged 70, of Crosshills, St Giles Street, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Anthony Houghton, aged 63, of Crosshills, St Giles Street, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Neil Garrett, aged 45, of Ribble Street, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Craig Atkinson, aged 58, of Accrington Road, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Ellie-Jay Day, aged 30, of Devon Grove, Burnley, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Katherine Ostrowercha, aged 30, of Whitegate Close, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
Lauren Neil, aged 38, of Whitegate Gardens, Whitegate Close, Padiham, charged with:
• Conspiracy to steal between 24 January 2024 and 10 February 2025
The alleged offences cover a period stretching from September 2020 through to February 2025, with the investigation involving plant machinery thefts across a large area of the country.
For Cumbria, the inclusion of the county among the 19 areas covered by the investigation means the case extends into the region, although Cheshire Police has not identified the specific Cumbrian locations or individual incidents involved.
All 20 defendants are due to appear at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 9 September 2026.
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