The trio, all said to have been born in Romania, but living in the UK legally, with addresses in Ipswich, Suffolk, appeared before Durham Crown Court for a plea hearing, accused of two counts each of burglary.
Ionut Bolmadir, 20, his 32-year-old brother, Vasile Bolmadir, and 30-year-old Marius Stroiu all appeared via video link from Durham Prison, where they have been on remand since their respective arrests.
The court was told that Vasile Bolmadir admitted both counts when he appeared before magistrates last month and his case was sent to be sentenced at the crown court.
(Image: Google Street View/The Northern Echo) Both Ionut Bolmadir and Stroiu admitted each count of burglary, relating to them entering the DPD depot at Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham as trespassers and stealing items, on December 11 and 12.
In each case they were said to have taken electrical items from the depot.
Lucy Todd, representing Ionut Bolmadir, said her client’s guilty plea was made on the basis that he was “merely the driver” in both cases.
(Image: Google Street View/The Northern Echo) Judge Jo Kidd asked prosecutor, Cainan Lonsdale, if that basis of plea was likely to be accepted by the Crown.
He said an “action plan” in the case was sought from the police and DPD, and it may well be that the Crown is able to reach, “an agreed position”.
Judge Kidd asked for each of the defendants’ basis of plea to be uploaded to the court by the end of the day, with a response by the prosecution by January 28.
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The judge said if those were considered acceptable by the Crown, she could proceed to sentence in about six weeks’ time.
She also asked the Probation Service to prepare background reports on each of the defendants, with a view to passing sentence on the trio, also by video link, on February 25.
All three men were remanded to remain in custody in the meantime.