Man pleads guilty to three burglary offences in Worthing

Joseph Keet, 31, from Royal Drive Bordon, has been charged with burglary other than dwelling with intent to steal, burglary other than dwelling - theft and attempted burglary other than dwelling with intent to steal, police said.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges and was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on 21 September, confirmed police.

His arrest was thanks to a collaboration between Sussex Police and Hampshire Constabulary, who provided information on two men who were travelling on the A27 in Lancing in a white Ford Fiesta on Friday, August 24.

With this intelligence, officers located the vehicle abandoned nearby in Fifth Avenue in Worthing and were able to use a tyre deflation tool to stop it from leaving the scene, police said.

At 3.45am officers received a report of the intruder alarm being set off in the Toby Carvery in Upper Brighton Road, Worthing, police said.

Officers attended the scene and saw two suspects, with their faces covered, leaving the premises.

Another call came in to an alarm alert at 4.30am from Hill Barn Golf Club in Hill Barn Lane, Worthing.

Police attended the scene but no suspects were found.

At 5.11am officers received a report of the intruder alarm being activated in Worthing College.

Shortly after this report two men were spotted by officers returning to the abandoned Ford Fiesta, said police.

Officers followed the vehicle along First Avenue when, due to the correct tool being used, the tyre went flat and both men exited the vehicle and ran into nearby gardens, confirmed police.

Police said: “During this fast paced incident, officers were able to tackle the complexity of the situation by using a police helicopter and a dog unit and the pair were detained.”

A 17-year-old boy from Bordon was arrested on suspicion of two counts of burglary other than dwelling with intent to steal and was later released under investigation, according to police.