A man accused of a string of burglaries and Land Rover thefts in the Keswick and north Cumbria areas will stand trial with two others early next year.

Patrick Young, 32, faced a total of nine charges when he appeared at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday.

Young faces five charges which allege burglary having entered as a trespasser.

  • at Keskadale Farm, Keswick, on February 26, 2018, and theft of Land Rover keys;
  • at a National Trust property in the Keswick area on April 18, 2019, and theft of keys to car park machines and cash;
  • at UK Car and Commercials, near Carlisle, and theft of vehicle keys, on May 15, 2019;
  • at Dalston Aggregates, on September 22, 2019, and theft of diesel and number plates;
  • and at the same National Trust property at Keswick with intent to steal, on November 22, 2019.

Young also faces four charges alleging theft – three of Land Rover Defenders, one on February 26, 2018, another on September 22, 2019, a third on November 22 the same year; and also a Ford Transit belonging to UK Car and Commercials, on May 15, 2019.

During a court hearing in front of Judge Richard Archer, Young pleaded not guilty to all nine charges.

Scott David Martin Walpole, 31, pleaded not guilty to the alleged burglary of Keskadale Farm.

A third defendant, 45-year-old James Duncan Benson, pleaded not guilty to burglary at Dalston Aggregates, and to theft at the Lingholm Estate.

The three men are now due to stand trial in front of a jury at the crown court.

This is due to start on April 4 and, it is estimated, will last between seven to 10 days.

In the meantime Young, of Firlands, Stanwix, Carlisle, was remanded in custody by Judge Archer, who granted bail to both Walpole, of Curzon Street, Maryport, and also Benson, also of Firlands, Carlisle.