Hadleigh: Police Probe Cable Death Link

27 June 2012, 10:56 | Updated: 27 June 2012, 16:06

The death of a man believed to have been electrocuted near a railway line in Hadleigh is being linked to an attempted cable theft, police revealed today. (Wednesday June 27th).

Officers were called there early today after reports of disruption to power lines.

The body of a man in his 40s was found, and police said the possibility that the death was related to an attempted cable theft was a line of inquiry.

Police and Network Rail have been warning for the past year of the dangers of stealing railway cable following a spate of thefts which have caused widespread delays and disruption to train services.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: "At 6.51am this morning BTP were called to the Castle Lane area of Hadleigh, Essex, between Benfleet and Leigh-on-Sea following a report of disruption to power lines in the area and a body on the railway embankment.

"BTP, Essex Police, East of England Ambulance Service and Network Rail attended the scene and the body of a man in his 40s was found beside the line. He appears to have been electrocuted.

"This death is currently being treated as unexplained. The possibility that this death is related to an attempted cable theft is one line of inquiry at this time.

"Officers are working to clear the line as quickly as possible, and establish the identity of the deceased as well as the circumstances surrounding this death.''