THREE cars were taken from a dales garage by intruders who forced their way into the premises at night, a court was told.

Eight sets of car keys were removed, along with a safe, the cctv unit and a charity box, in the break-in, after a glass panel in a workshop door was smashed at Mickleton Service Station, in Teesdale, County Durham, overnight on November 13/14, last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that although the keys to eight cars were stolen, only three vehicles, a Saab 9-3 Aero, a Vauxhall Corsa and a Volkswagen Passat were driven away from the premises, on the B6277.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said both the Saab and the Corsa were recovered the following day, but the Passat was involved in a police chase a week later.

Although the car was recovered after the pursuit, the occupants made good their escape.

Mr Sabiston said the involvement of defendant Kieron Heslop was suspected as the result of a fingerprint lift from a petrol receipt, dated from November 16, recovered from the Passat.

Heslop was arrested on January 6 and when allegations were put to him, he merely said he had accepted the offer of a lift from a friend and that’s why his print was present in the vehicle.

But Mr Sabiston said when investigators viewed camera footage recovered from the Saab car, Heslop’s voice was recognised by a police officer.

The 24-year-old, from the village of Stanley, near Crook, was said to have numerous convictions for theft and other offences of dishonesty.

Appearing via video link to the court from nearby Durham Prison, Heslop previously admitted burglary, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He also admitted failing to appear at a previous court hearing in the case, in early February, after which he has remained on remand, in custody.

Andrew Finlay, mitigating, said, having initially denied the offences, Heslop changed his pleas well before the scheduled trial date.

Mr Finlay said on the night of the offences, the defendant was out with friends and, while making their way home, “a decision was made to break into a garage in order to steal refreshments”.

“But, once inside, vehicles were taken to get home.

“These were opportunistic offences, rather than being ‘professionally’ planned, although a burglar alarm was removed, which was, in fact, a ‘dummy’.

“Two of the vehicles taken were only driven a relatively short distance before being abandoned, demonstrating a lack of though as to what was going to happen.

“The vehicle driven by the defendant, the Saab, was recovered from the side of the road, indicating the opportunistic nature of the offence.”

Mr Finlay said other than this offence, Heslop has remained out of trouble since May 2015, and he, himself, described his involvement as, “stupidity”.

Having read letters from the defendant and a further character testimonial, Judge Simon Hickey said it appears the defendant has made a “positive change” in his life.

Given that he has spent three-and-a-half months in custody, Judge Hickey said he could take the, “exceptional course” of suspending the sentence imposed on Heslop.

He passed a ten month prison sentence, suspended for a year, with an order to perform 100 hours’ unpaid work, complete 20 activity days overseen by the Probation Service, and pay a £140 court surcharge.

Heslop was also banned from driving for a year.