THREE men involved in either the theft of jewellery in a burglary or its subsequent pawning for cash will be sentenced later in the month.

It follows a guilty plea tendered by defendant Ian Lamb to a charge of converting criminal property, relating to the sale of the quantity of jewellery to a pawnbroker/antique dealer, knowing or suspecting it to be the proceeds of a burglary.

A sum of £1,400 was handed over from the sale of the stolen items at the Metrocentre, Gateshead, on Saturday March 3.

Lamb, 32, of Sunnyside Terrace, Trimdon Grange, previously denied the charge, but changed his plea on the day of his scheduled trial.

Durham Crown Court was told the jewellery was taken in a burglary at a house in Trimdon Station the previous day.

John Robert Robinson, 55, of Luke Avenue, Cassop, near Durham, last month admitted a charge of burglary of the house, in which the jewellery was taken.

A third co-accused, 20-year-old Kyle Barnett, of Cravens Cottages, Station Town, has also admitted converting criminal property in the same case, although the basis of his admission may yet be subject of a trial of issue.

Should that be resolved, the trio, all remanded in custody, will be sentenced at the court, on Friday August 24.