Thieves to be sentenced after six-week crime spree

Three Middleton men were part of a group of thieves responsible for a six-week crime spree and are due to be sentenced next month.

Christopher Carroll, 19, of Yewdale Drive, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and attempted robbery, while Simon Carr, also 19, of York Road East, pleaded guilty to theft and Paul Steven Shaw, 22, of Kirkstone Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary.

They are to be sentenced alongside three other men on 22 May.

The group's crime spree happened in March and April last year when Greater Manchester Police noticed an alarming rise of aggravated robberies in a short period of time and started to suspect that the same group may be responsible.

In Stockport, Oldham, Bury and Rochdale, victims were threatened at knifepoint and assaulted as the group tried to steal their cars.