Two burglars arrested after a high-speed police chase have admitted committing three break-ins in a day, including one at a firm of solicitors.

Tom Simpson, 25, and Alex Prentice, 24, stole £500 from the bar at Ashcroft Coast caravan park in Plough Road, Minster, a till and approximately £100 from The Dragon Chinese restaurant in Minster Road, Halfway, and £25 from nearby Peter Clough and Co.

The burglaries occurred on May 10. Simpson, of no fixed address, also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

He was at the wheel of a Nissan Almera on the same date and led police on a chase along the A249 from Sheppey, onto the A2 and through Sittingbourne before being stopped by a stinger device on the M2.

Simpson and Prentice, of Florence Street, Hendon, north west London, appeared in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court last Wednesday.

However, a third defendant, Darren Spring, 42, of Fryent Grove, Colindale, north west London, was not brought from HMP Elmley as he was said to have a bad back.

The case was adjourned until July 1 when all three will appear at court via TV link with the Sheppey prison.

Remanding Simpson and Prentice in custody, Judge David Griffith-Jones said he will proceed to sentence on that date if Spring also pleads guilty.

Speaking last month, solicitor Janice Steadman said: “This was a totally pointless break-in. Our heavy wooden front door was left pulverised, our reception door was shattered and the door to our strong room was smashed off its hinges although it wasn’t even locked.

“It was just mindless and pointless.” She also praised neighbour Gary Sims who’d alerted police to the break-in.