Colchester magistrates deny bail for man charged with theft offences

Thomas Sterry, of HMP Isis, London, is accused of three counts of burglary of a dwelling and theft, three counts of theft of a motor vehicle, and one count of burglary of a dwelling with intent to steal.

Officials at Colchester Magistrates' Court held a hearing on Monday where Sterry, 21, appeared via video link to deny all the charges put before him under instruction from his defence lawyer, Lucy Osborn.

The charges relate to accusations Sterry burgled a beach hut in Wrabness and stole two Calor gas bottles in the summer of 2022.

Denied – Sterry denied all the charges put to him (Image: Newsquest)

Sterry is also accused of burgling a house in St Michael’s Road, Harwich, and taking keys to a Ford Fiesta before stealing the car from the address.

Further charges relate to accusations Sterry stole a Volkswagen Golf from an address in Colchester, and burgled addresses in Dedham and Higham.

Sterry had been due to enter pleas at Colchester Magistrates’ Court last month alongside Tommy Searl, 29, Harry Davis, 19, and Faith Moxam, 19 who also denied charges of theft and burglary.

However, due to technical problems with Sterry’s video link, he was unable to appear in court and the hearing was postponed until Monday.

At last month’s hearing, Searl, of HMP Brixton, denied three counts of burglary and four counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

Cell – Thomas Sterry appeared from HMP Isis, London (Image: Northumbria Police)

Harry Davis, of Mayflower Avenue, Harwich, did not enter a plea to three counts of theft and three counts of burglary.

At the same hearing, Moxam, of Main Road, Harwich, did not enter a plea to two charges of burglary and two charges of theft of a motor vehicle.

Sterry, Searl, Davis, and Moxam will all appear in Chelmsford Crown Court next Tuesday for a pre-trial preparation hearing.

Magistrates denied Sterry, previously of Dovercourt, bail and remanded in custody.