Trio admit farm raids spree (From The Advertiser Series)

Trio admit farm raids spree

11:44am Tuesday 8th December 2009

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THREE men could be jailed for their parts in an £80,000 crime spree during which quad bikes, trials bikes and agricultural equipment was stolen.

Farm outbuildings and garages across the Yorkshire Dales were targeted in a campaign of thefts and break-ins lasting more than a year.

The offences were committed in places ranging from Richmond, Leyburn, Reeth, and Catterick Garrison to Aysgarth Falls and Cleasby, near Darlington.

Three men from Darlington were due to go on trial accused of conspiracy to steal last week before pleading guilty to alternative charges.

Andrew Jones, 25, of Hundens Lane, admitted stealing 15 quad bikes, two trials bikes, and a power washer, as well as the attempted theft of a quad bike. He denied a separate burglary in Bedale in which two mountain bikes were stolen.

Brian Robson, 37, of Shakespeare Road, admitted two charges of handling stolen goods, and 25- year-old Kye Boyes, of Wharfe Way, admitted one count of handling stolen goods.

Boyes and Robson admitted handling the stolen quad bike, trials bike and power washer from the January offence. Robson pleaded guilty to a further charge of handling a stolen Honda quad bike in the same month.

The three will return to Teesside Crown Court in January to be sentenced, once background reports have been prepared by Probation Service officials.

Jones’ barrister, Jonathan Walker, said his client accepted being the driver for another thief during eight offences from February onwards.

Mr Walker told the court: “He has a record. He has made admissions in relation to his dishonest conduct at a time when he was highlyaddicted to class A drugs.

Martin Towers, for Boyes, told Judge George Moorhouse: “He is relatively lightly convicted, certainly in the past couple of years.”

John Gillette, for Robson, said: “He has pleaded guilty to two counts of handling and I ask for a pre-sentence report.”

Judge Moorhouse gave the three men bail, and told them: “The mere fact I am asking for reports should not give you any false hope.”

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