A GANG who targeted primary schools and sports clubs, stealing more than £73,000, have been warned they face lengthy prison sentences.

Bolton Crown Court heard the group of four men, raided more than 30 schools and clubs across the North West and Yorkshire, including five in East Lancashire, over a three-month period in 2015.

Benjamin Grimes, Christopher Moore, Samuel Grimes and Mark Rhodes would visit schools in ones or twos on the pretence of possibly sending their children there, the court heard.

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But in reality they were carrying out reconnaissance at the buildings and using the visits as an opportunity to tamper with alarms.

The prosecution said Rhodes and Benjamin Grimes targeted Broadway Primary School in Haslingden and stole 15 Samsung laptops worth £5,475, 14 Samsung notebooks worth £3,010 and one Apple Mac worth £766.

They also caused more than £1,000 of damage to an fire door and internal doors and took £150 worth of cash and stamps and a small safe.

The pair also targeted Bacup Cricket Club but nothing was stolen.

Geoff Whelan, prosecuting, said: "There appears to have been a precise targeting of commercial premises such as primary schools, pubs and social clubs."

Benjamin Grimes also ransacked St Mary's RC Primary School in Accrington and made off with £800 in cash and also damaged a sensor at St Wulstan's RC Primary School in Great Harwood.

He also took five Toshiba laptops, a safe and cash from St Nicholas' CE Primary School in Accrington.

Over the three months multiple schools were targeted in Bolton and the surrounding areas and others as far away as Southport and Wakefield, were also visited by the gang.

All four men pleaded guilty at the hearing and the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson, adjourned sentence until Friday remanded all four men in custody.

Graham Jones, who is the MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, said: "I take a very tough line on crime and I don't think that sentences in general are long enough.

"I think that the judge should not take any sympathy on these people as they have targeted young people who can't defend themselves and have disrupted their education.

"What they did was despicable."

Benjamin Grimes, 26, of Pear Tree Drive, Farnworth, Samuel Grimes, 24, of Georgina Court, Bolton, Mark Rhodes, 30, of Adrain Street, Moston and Christopher Moore, 29, of Wolsey Street, Heywood, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

They were linked with the burglaries though the cell siting of their mobile phones and, in some cases, CCTV images.

In addition Benjamin Grimes and Rhodes admitted robbing The Three Pigeons pub, Wigan Road, Bolton, on September 6 last year when they burst into the pub as part of a four man gang armed with baseball bats and forced the terrified landlady to had over £730 from the office safe.

Benjamin Grimes also pleaded guilty to burgling a house in Clarke Street, Halliwell on November 3.

Nicholas Ross, defending Rhodes, said his client had turned to drink and drugs in early 2015 following his released from prison and the break-up of his marriage.

Andrew Costello, for Samuel Grimes, said he had become involved in the burglary conspiracy after finding himself without permanent work after returning to England from living in Thailand and added that Benjamin Grimes, who is father to a six-month-old daughter, had only been able to get temporary jobs after being discharged from the army.

Mr Costello said: "The sentence he receives will be so significant he will miss the formative part of his child's life."

Roger Brown, for Moore, said that since the offences were committed the defendant has drastically reduced his drinking and drug taking.

Cllr Granville Morris, who represents the area around Broadway Primary in Haslingden on Rossendale Council, said: "I hope that the sentences fit the crime.

"The question is whether any of the equipment was ever recovered and returned to the schools and if the court is able to impose costs on these people.

"These attacks will have had an impact on the pupils and it would have been shocking and upsetting for them t go through."