SIX Wirral men who raided more than 30 pubs, restaurants and shops across the country have pleaded guilty.

Gary Platt, 42, Kieran Platt, 24, Joseph Salla, 19, Joshua Wilkinson, 22, Lee Hodkin, 33, and Peter Mighall, 45, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary when they appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, December 6.

Wilkinson also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

They have all been remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court next year.

Detectives from Cheshire Constabulary conducted the raids on Thursday, November 7 at seven homes in Prenton, Noctorum, Heswall and Birkenhead with help from Merseyside Police and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

The burglaries took place in Merseyside, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, North Wales, Dyfed Powys and West Mercia as well as two home burglaries and several thefts from cars.

Safes were also targeted during the burglaries.

Following the hearing, detective sergeant Graeme Carvell, who has led the investigation, said: “These men clearly thought they were above the law.

“They were all members of a sophisticated group who carried out more than 30 carefully planned burglaries at pubs and retail stores across the UK.

“Their crime spree spanned eight separate police forces across England and Wales.

“Thankfully, as a result of the work conducted by the dedicated team of detectives here at Cheshire Constabulary, their crime spree has now been brought to an end.

“The fact that they have all pleaded guilty to the offences is testament to the strength of the evidence gathered in this case.”