A man has pleaded guilty to burgling three homes in Canvey in broad daylight while his victims were out working.

Charles Denney, of Lionel Road, Canvey, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on August 10.

Denney, 23, is due to be sentenced on September 7 at Basildon Crown Court.

On Friday, June 22, an occupant in Haven Road returned home work at 6pm to discover he had been burgled.

Denney had climbed through a bathroom window before leaving with a three-figure sum of cash and the victim’s wedding ring.

Denney then targeted the victim’s elderly neighbour on Monday, August 7, at around 1.50pm.

He climbed through a bathroom window, breaking a radiator in the process, and then took a glass jar with a three-figure sum of cash inside.

The following day at around 4.30pm, he smashed a kitchen window using a brick at an address in Green Avenue and took a glass pot.

Police arrested Denney on Wednesday, August 9.

Investigating officer Dc Laura Bowden said: “Denney is an opportunist, he pretended to be visiting his victims by knocking on their door and then forced entry into their homes when he was confident they were out.

“He showed no consequence for his actions and carried out searches of their properties in the hope of finding cash and jewellery.

“He even took a victim’s wedding ring which had great sentimental value.

“Fortunately, following some good work we were able to quickly bring this case to the courts, where Denney has admitted to the offences.”

His admission comes two weeks after notorious Canvey burglar Peter Flowers, 43, was handed a six year prison sentence for conspiracy to burgle 43 houses along with Lindsay Hilden, 35.

The pair had been branded South Essex’s “most wanted burglars” after going on a burglary spree across the area to fund their drug habits.

The sentence was branded as “disgusting” by some of his victims who wanted him sent away for longer due to the impact the burglary had on the family.

Hilden will be sentenced at a later date as the judge wanted to consider evidence as to the extent of her involvement in the crimes.