A FORMER Glosters soldier who 'fenced' stolen copper cable in the Forest of Dean has been sentenced to do 80 hours of unpaid work for the community.

At Gloucester Crown Court David Davies, 55, admitted eight charges of handling drums of electrical cable stolen from Dean Electrical Wholesale on the Cinderford Forest Vale Industrial Estate.

Prosecutor James Tucker said the stolen cable weighed 1,580 kilos and was valued at around £1,800.

The evidence was that just more than £1,000 had been paid for the copper, he added. Davies was arrested in July 2009 and denied being aware or suspecting that the copper might be stolen, Mr Tucker said.

Davies, of Cedardean, Cinderford, had been charged jointly with his son Lee, 23, who stood trial last month accused of stealing the cable from Dean Electrical, for whom he was working. Lee, of the same address, was found not guilty of all charges by a jury.

Lynne Matthews, for David Davies said he was a man of previous good character who is currently out of work and would be well able to perform unpaid work for the benefit of society.

"He is never going to visit this court again," she assured Judge Jamie Tabor QC.

The judge told Davies: "What a sad day it is for a man who works hard and has been by all accounts a reasonable father to find himself in this position today, in disgrace.

"You have an honourable past. You served with the Glosters for eight years. You have always been in employment and you have had some tragedy in your life in the last few years."

He ordered Davies to pay prosecution costs of £150.