(Image: The Northern Echo)
A man who previously denied taking part in the theft of a caravan from a holiday park on the County Durham coast has changed plea and admitted the offence.
Martin Mongans was to have stood trial in November after denying jointly, with others, stealing the Swift Sprint Quattro, worth £22,000, from the Crimdon Dene site, on March 26.
Mongans, who has remained in custody since his arrest on a warrant after failing to attend an earlier hearing in the case, appeared via video link from HMP Durham for a further plea hearing today (Wednesday August 19).
His counsel, Jonathan Gittins, asked that the charge be put to his client once more.
Defendant Martin Mongans has changed plea and now admits taking part in the theft of a caravan from the Crimdon Dene Holiday Park site, on the County Durham coast, in March
(Image: The Northern Echo)
This time, the 48-year-old defendant, of Granton Road, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty.
Judge Richard Bennett said he does not appear to have much of a record in this country, but he understands there are outstanding warrants for Mongans arrest in Ireland.
He adjourned passing sentence for a month, to allow a background report to be prepared on the defendant by the Probation Service.
The judge asked for more information from the prosecution about the outstanding matters in Ireland.
Addressing Mongans, Judge Bennett said: “The fact I’m adjourning for preparation of a report should not be taken as any indication as to the nature of the sentence in this case.
“All sentencing options, including immediate custody, are open to the court.”
He remanded the defendant to remain in custody, pending the sentencing hearing, on September 18.