A gang of young burglars targeted four homes in one night, stealing a car from one of the properties.

Callum Walsh, Kyle Bramhall and Habib Azad broke into homes - in some cases disturbing those sleeping  - in October 2022.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Walsh took part in the burglaries on the day of his 18th birthday.

The trio first went first to Pennine Road in Horwich.

A man, who had a child, woke up and found two men inside his house.

The group fled the scene in a car.

CCTV showed them forcing entry to his home.

The group appeared a short time later on Thorns Road, Astley Bridge.

A woman was inside with her husband and two children.

She was woken up at around 2.40am by the dog barking. She realised the patio door was open but nothing had been stolen.

The group then turned up at Chetwyn Avenue, Bolton.

The next day the occupant realised someone had tried to gain entry to the rear of the property.

At a property in Lakenheath Drive, Eagley, they stole a Toyota Prius.

The following day Azad was spotted in a car on false plates by police.

Police found a receipt in the car for petrol being bought at ASDA.

CCTV form the supermarket then showed Bramall putting petrol into the car being used in the vehicle.

Messages between the men made reference to "needing dough from the car."

The group all appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting conspiracy to commit burglary.

Walsh pleaded on the basis that he did not enter any of the properties but rather acted as the lookout.

Claire Brocklebank, representing Walsh, said: “He was a young and immature man at the time, he is now 19.

“He appreciates it was scary for people to have burglars come into their house and also to take their things that they have worked hard for.”

She added that he had been in custody since his arrest in October 2022.

Paul Hodgkinson, representing Bramall, said: “He has no previous offences of dishonesty.

“There is no offending since this 18 months ago.

“He is described as a low risk of reoffending.”

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Judge Martin Walsh sent Walsh to a Young Offenders’ Institution for 30 months and jailed Brammall for the same period.

He said: “Conspiracy to commit burglary in this nature passes the custody threshold by a significant amount.”

Azad, 22 and from Tattersall Avenue, Johnson Fold, will be sentenced next week.