THREE troublemakers have owned up to stealing and attempting to steal cars in the county.

THREE troublemakers have owned up to attempting to steal cars in the county.

Police were called about suspicious behaviour near a vehicle in Grange Road, Winston, near Debenham, on February 16, at about 8.15am.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard last Tuesday that a witness saw the three men trying to force open a red Ford Fiesta in Winston. When he challenged them, they walked away and then he called police and they were arrested in Framsden Road.

The three men, Javiel O'Connor, 18, of Defoe Road, Ipswich, Aaron Knock, 19, of Shakespeare Road, Ipswich, and a 17-year-old from Ipswich, all pleaded guilty to attempted theft when they appeared in court. Knock also pleaded guilty to breaching a supervision order.

Dino Barricella, mitigating on behalf of the offenders, said: “This was unsophisticated and poorly planned. It was opportunistic. “They tried to bend the door back, were spotted and made off. It was a moderate level offence with no or minimal aggravating features.”

Knock was sentenced to 12 weeks in custody plus a further 25 days to run consecutively.

In sentencing him, chairman of the bench, David Broughton, said: “Your previous record shows you have a blatant disregard for court orders.”

O'Connor's case was adjourned for an all-options pre-sentence report to be carried out. He was released on conditional bail until his next court appearance on March 11.

The 17-year-old's case was transferred to Ipswich Youth Court, where he was given an action plan order for three months. He was also told to pay �50 compensation.

He told the court: “I'm trying to keep out of trouble.”

His father added: “When he is round at my house, he is never any trouble. It is a bit like Jekyll and Hyde. I think it is due to the people he is mixing with.”

Have you noticed an increase in car crime? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.