A MAN whose DNA was found on the pipe used to syphon off 250 litres of diesel during a £250,000 HGV theft has been jailed.

Michael Noon admitted being part of a conspiracy to steal two trailers and a truck cabin from a haulage yard in Wootton, near Boars Hill, on May 13 last year.

The court heard that an unknown number of men broke into the grounds of John Werrell and Son, off the B4017 Cumnor Road, by cutting the padlock on the gate.

Prosecuting, Cathy Olliver said a driver had left his trailer with £124,000-worth of alcohol in the yard overnight after being delayed from Liverpool to Swindon.

She added: “In the early hours of the next morning the owner went to his yard and discovered the padlock had been cut, the gates were open and a security light taken.

“The trailer containing the alcohol, another trailer containing mountain bikes worth £120,000 and a red tractor had been taken.

“In order to steal his truck, diesel had been syphoned from a tractor unit that was in the yard.”

The court heard that 29-year-old Noon had been caught after the pipe used to syphon the diesel had been forensically tested and his DNA found on it.

Miss Olliver told Oxford Crown Court on Thursday that Noon had admitted helping to syphon off the diesel, but denied knowing what was in the trailers, and had driven home to Liverpool that night.

She said that both trailers were spotted the next day, one in a layby on the A34, while the other was seen being driven up the M6.

She added: “ Police recovered the two stolen trailers, one still contained the mountain bikes, but the alcohol from the other had gone.”

Julian Nutter, defending, stressed that Noon, of Askern Road, Liverpool, had not played a major role in the theft.

Circuit Judge Tom Corrie said although Noon did not know what was being stolen, the trailer could not have been stolen without him.

Jailing Noon for 14 months he added: “This was a professional offence.

Your role was as important, albeit a minor one.”