THREE men have appeared in court in connection with a string of burglaries in East Hampshire and beyond.

Rhys Andrews pleaded guilty to five counts of conspiracy to commit burglary when he appeared before a judge at Portsmouth Crown Court last Monday.

The 22-year-old of Riders Lane, Leigh Park, Havant, also admitted at the plea and sentencing hearing to a count of dangerous driving.

The counts range from March 16 to August 21 and include burglaries in Canada Way in Liphook, Complins in Alton and The Causeway in Petersfield. 

They were targeted during a 16-day spell in August with the trio also suspected of burgling properties in Gosport, Fareham, Waterlooville, Cosham and Littlehampton during a four-month period.

Andrews was remanded in custody along with two other suspects, Denzel Fewings and Steven Lambie.

Fewings pleaded not guilty to five counts of conspiracy to burgle and one of being in possession of a Class A drug.

The 23-year-old of Laburnum Road in Waterlooville did admit to a count of possessing a Class B drug with His Honour Judge Ashworth rejecting an application for bail.

Lambie, of Waverley Road in Southsea, was also remanded in bail. 

The 19-year-old has been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle and handling of stolen goods.

He is expected to enter a plea in three weeks while a five-day trial has been pencilled in to begin at Portsmouth Crown Court on February 19.