David Budden, 20, of Holbeck Hill, pleaded guilty, along with two others, to burglary and criminal damage after using a forklift truck to cause havoc at Ward Bros, in Showfield Lane, Malton.

The trio, which also included Eric Bowie, 20, of Alma Street, Sheffield, and Alexander Richardson, 20, of Welburn, near York, appeared at Scarborough Magistrates' Court yesterday.

They used a forklift truck, which had been left unlocked with the keys in its ignition, to overturn two parked cars. They also rammed it into a number of other stationary trucks and lorries causing severe damage to the grilles.

Prosecuting, Michael Blackward, said: "They then broke into the site's office where they caused even more damage. They also stole a laptop and CCTV hard drive which they took to avoid being found out."

The laptop was later found at one of the defendants' homes while the gang discarded the CCTV equipment nearby.

Police initially believed teenage girls were responsible for the vandalism, which happened at around 1am on September 4, but, after the CCTV footage was found, the trio could be seen ramming the truck's forks into the front of lorries. It also showed them overturning a large bin and pushing it into the back of a car.

All three were released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced at York Crown Court during the week of December 22.