Three teenagers have admitted stealing up to £4,300 in jewellery, cash and electronic equipment during daylight raids carried out on Shropshire homes on Monday.

Joshua Richards, 18, from Southgate, in Sutton Hill, Telford, yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one charge of attempted burglary involving homes in two areas of the town.

Richards accompanied two 15 year olds from Shifnal – who cannot be named for legal reasons – during raids at houses in Stocking Park Road in Lightmoor and in Willowbank in Aqueduct.

The burglaries took place while homeowners were at work or out walking dogs in the morning, Telford magistrates court was told.

Miss Julie Fisher, prosecuting, said the gang’s tactic was to knock on front doors and peer through windows to check no-one was inside, before using spades and wrenches to force windows.

She said an alarm sounded at the third property, prompting them to run.

Miss Fisher said police spotted the three in Telford later on Monday and tried to speak to them. After a short chase, they were all caught with stolen goods.

Mr Stephen Scully, for Richards, said: “My client bumped into the two youths and it would appear that for no particular reason, possibly boredom, he’s gone along with them and committed these burglaries.

“This offence was on impulse and we have also got to take into account he’s in many ways quite immature and young for his age and that he did eventually make a full and frank admission of the crimes.”

Mr Scully accepted Richards was “highly likely” to go to jail, as he had also pleaded guilty to breaching a suspended jail sentence.

Richards was remanded on conditional bailfor sentencing at a later date at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

In a separate youth court hearing, the 15 year olds involved admitted the same three counts, plus breaching anti-social behaviour orders.

Mr Mark Thompson, for the juveniles, said: “It is powerful mitigation that they carried out these matters in the company of an adult. What they got involved with was very stupid and more serious than what they have previously done.”

Magistrates chairman Mr Arnold England told them: “The harm you did was substantial. We feel it’s serious enough for a community sentence and that a custodial sentence is justified.”

Sentencing was adjourned until at least February 16 for probation reports.

By Danny Carden