CROOKS who were involved in an organised campaign to steal cars across north Essex have admitted the offences on the day they were due to stand trial. 

Tommy Searl, 25, and Thomas Sterry, 21, were involved in burgling addresses in Harwich, Ardleigh, and Dedham where they stole car keys to a Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, and Ford Fiesta.

Harry Davis, 20, assisted Searl and Sterry in stealing the cars.

Faith Moxam, 20, had a lesser involvement in the operation but allowed herself to be carried in the Volkswagen Golf when she knew it had been stolen.

Burglary Tommy Searl and Thomas Sterry will be sentenced on both burglary and theft chargesBurglary Tommy Searl and Thomas Sterry will be sentenced on both burglary and theft charges (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) All four defendants were initially set to stand trial on Tuesday, but after they admitted their involvement in the criminal activity.

Searl, of HMP Brixton, admitted stealing a Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, and Ford Fiesta; he also admitted burgling homes in St Michael’s Road in Harwich and Church View in Ardleigh.

Sterry, of HMP Isis, admitted stealing the Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, and Ford Fiesta, and burgling an address in Hadleigh Road, Dedham.

Davis, of Mayflower Avenue, Harwich, admitted theft of the same three cars and dishonestly receiving two Calor gas bottles.

As Searl and Sterry were unable to be produced from their cells, the sentence was delayed until next week so the two could be sentenced together with Davis, Judge Mary Loram said.

She told the court: “There is an involvement, potentially in an organised campaign, of stealing what appear to be hatchbacks.

“Having read the papers, the reality of this operation is that it’s slightly chaotic and the defendants are not very good at it.”

Involved – Harry Davis was said to have assisted Tommy Searl and Harry Davis, the court heardInvolved – Harry Davis was said to have assisted Tommy Searl and Harry Davis, the court heard (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) She added she will not jail Davis, who sat in the dock next to Moxam, during the sentencing hearing next week.

“I am not going to send him to prison, but he has to be sentenced as part and parcel with Searl and Sterry," she said. 

“He can spend the weekend knowing he’s not going to prison.”

Moxam, of Main Road, Harwich, was given a 12-month conditional discharge for admitting the single charge of being carried in a stolen car.

Searl, Sterry, and Davis will be sentenced next Wednesday.