A POLICE officer has admitted being part of a gang who conspired to raid cash machines.

Northumbria officer Jason Singh, 24, who was based at South Shields, in South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal along with six other men. The gang targeted cash machines during planned raids.

During one they made off with £13,500 from an automatic teller machine (ATM) at a petrol station in Dunston, Gateshead.

A second raid at a petrol station ATM near the Metrocentre was unsuccessful and they were left empty handed.

Police were lying in wait to arrest the gang during the third raid when they went back to the same ATM in Dunston.

It has been claimed Singh may have used insider knowledge to assist the scam.

At Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Singh admitted two charges of conspiracy to steal.

His brother Craig Singh, 20, of Ryde Terrace, Bensham also admitted conspiracy to steal.

Co-conpiritors Mark McDonald, 26, of Chelsea Gardens, Deckham, and Justin Brown, of Fernlough, Gateshead, admitted two charges of conspiracy to steal.

Shane Faife, 25, of Curzon Street, Gateshead, Joseph McDonald, 27, of Colgate, Leam Lane, and Peter Chisholm, of Deerbush, West Denton, Newcastle, admitted one charge of conspiracy to steal.

The charges date between November and December last year.

Sentence was adjourned for the preparation reports.

Jason Singh's barrister Tony Hawks told the court: "He obviously accepts custody will be the only result of the sentencing exercise."

After the hearing, Northumbria Police Deputy Chief Constable David Warcup said: "I cannot stress too strongly the fact that it is not acceptable for anyone employed by Northumbria Police to indulge in criminal behaviour.

"Singh is currently suspended and will be the subject of misconduct proceedings. In the light of his guilty plea, those proceedings will be fast-tracked."