A GROUP that targeted people’s homes and stole thousands of pounds worth of items have appeared before Mold Crown Court.

Harry Povey, 19, of Montrose Garden in Wrexham and Marc Williams, 23, of No Fixed Abode, both were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal.

A third offender, who cannot be named for legal reasons was also sentenced.

Appearing at Mold Crown Court on October 13, Prosecuting barrister John Philpotts said several burglaries were carried out in the space of a week between October and November of last year in Wrexham and the surrounding areas.

The first burglary occurred at a property in Bryn Teg on October 28, 2019 after the residents had gone camping.

On October 31, the occupants received a call to say their property had been ‘ransacked’ leaving them ‘greatly distressed’.

Mr Philpotts said a number of items were stolen including £3,000 in cash, keys to other properties, a car, PlayStation, jewellery and bottles of gin.

Further burglaries were also committed over the course of the week with high-valued items stolen and homes ransacked.

Items over the course of the week included several cars, which had the number plates changed, jewellery and clothing.

Mr Philpotts said Williams was arrested by North Wales Police on November 5 and Povey was arrested on November 6.

As a result, around £25,000 worth of loss was totalled during the course of the week.

The court heard how Povey’s previous convictions were an ‘aggravating feature’ but despite his young age, Povey had split with his then-partner of five-years and his life was ‘somewhat chaotic’.

Since being in custody, Povey has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and is on medication for that after he ‘spent a lot of time crying’ and his head was ‘in a bit of a spin’.

Povey also has a child who he has not seen and as a result has missed ‘key milestones’ in those ‘precious early moments’ such as his son’s first birthday.

The court heard how this was something that ‘tears him apart’ as he knows he will ‘miss out on many more’.

Defence Counsel for Williams, Robert Edwards, said at the time he was effectively homeless, but he is ‘old enough to know better’ and ‘young enough to change’ his ways.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said the three defendants pleaded guilty on earlier occasions to conspiracy to burgle people’s homes.

He told the court that these are places where people are entitled to ‘feel safe and secure’.

Judge Rowlands added it was a ‘significant’ number of burglaries with a ‘degree of sophistication and planning’ involved into what is always ‘deeply unsettling offences’.

He told the court these are unsettling not just to the victims and their family, but also to other people who live in the area.

Upon sentencing, a 25 per cent reduction was given due to their either guilty pleas.

Povey, who had ‘reasons to try and change’ his ways was given a 27-month custodial sentence.

Williams was given a 45-month custodial sentence.