A MAN who stole £6,000-worth of front doors from a building site was caught after a tip off from dog walkers who spotted his van.

Two dog walkers reported seeing three suspicious men getting into a Ford Transit van parked outside a Redrow Homes development in Droitwich and it was later discovered by staff 90 composite exterior doors had gone missing.

Several days later, the site manager then spotted the same van pulling into a neighbouring development and called the police, with officers finding three men, including defendant Connor Holmes, sat inside.

The 29-year-old accepted a charge of theft in relation to the incident on October 28 last year, when appearing at Worcester Magistrates Court last Thursday.

Emily Clewer, prosecuting, said the van was seen by the dog walkers at midday on the day of the theft with the three men emerging from the site.

She said forensic officers had used mobile phone data to locate Holmes, of Castle Lane, Solihull, at nearby locations to the development on the day of the thefts.

Alan Saunders, aged 36 and listed by the court as living at Dunton Road, Birmingham, and Steven Tedd, 34, of The Radleys, Birmingham, both denied a charge each of theft when also appearing in court on October 17.

Saunders, however, informed the court he was currently of no fixed abode.

They were both asked whether they wanted their trial to be held at the magistrates court or Worcester Crown Court, as the case is suitable for either, and both opted for the former.

Chair of the bench Judith Hulland set a trial date of January 10, 2020.

Holmes will to be sentenced at the end of that hearing.

Ms Hulland also set a deadline of November 14 for the CPS to produce further evidence including that in relation to phone mast signalling.

All three defendants were released on unconditional bail, with the trial set to begin at 10am.

They were all represented by Gurdeep Singh during the hearing last week.