A man who previously denied burgling a building on a business park near Penrith has changed his plea to guilty.
Kieron Heslop, 29, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court remotely over a video link earlier today.
After a brief submission by his barrister, Heslop admitted one burglary having entered a building at Redhills Lane used by Holland & Oxley as a trespasser, and stealing vehicle keys.
Heslop further admitted stealing a Ford Transit van belonging to a vehicle hire company.
Both crimes were committed between June 4 and 8 last year having asserted that his offending was part of a group venture.
Prosecutor Charles Brown said the two guilty pleas were acceptable, saying: “It is consistent with the case. He was part of a group. Two vehicles were driven away that night.”
Judge Nicholas Barker agreed to a request by defence lawyer Stephen Hamill that the case should be adjourned for the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report.
Judge Barker said Heslop had been subject to a community order with a rehabilitation requirement — and thus under probation service supervision — at the time of his Penrith area crimes.
He had not offended since 2017 but, the judge noted, his criminal record before then was “appalling”.
“He needn’t get his hopes up,” Judge Barker said to Mr Hamill.
Heslop, of New Lane, Denton, Darlington, is due to be sentenced at the crown court on February 9. In the meantime he will remain in custody.
