FOUR members of the travelling community played their part in an attempted theft of a large electromagnet from a Monmouthshire site, a court heard.

Maggie Price, 41, her son Hendry Price, 18, cousin April Price, 26, all of Rover Way, Cardiff and Peter Jones, 63, of Drawlings Close St Mellons, appeared at Newport Crown Court for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty to the attempted theft from the Magor sewage treatment works.

Prosecutor David Thomas said on October 13 last year, an unknown man was seen getting bolt cutters out of his vehicle and breaking in to the premises.

This was reported to police and, when officers attended, the magnet, sought after for scrap, had been dragged across the floor to a different location.

Mr Thomas said the magnet, used by CS Waste Ltd for recycling purposes, was attached to a JCB, but was removed after bolts to the value of around £500 were sheared off.

Police officers saw two vehicles travelling towards them, one with a loading facility, with the defendants inside.

They were later arrested but all denied involvement.

Ed Mitchard, representing all four defendants, said they had been roped into it with little reward and admitted their involvement by pleading guilty.

Recorder Catherine Brown sentenced Maggie and April Price to a 12-month community order and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Jones and Hendry Price were given 12- month community orders with a supervision requirement for 52 weeks.