A 19-year-old has admitted taking a car and a van with keys he stole during an 11 day burglary spree in South Devon.

Morgan Povey broke into three homes in Newton Abbot, Torquay or Totnes and damaged a Skoda car and a VW Caddy van that he took after two of the raids.

The teenager from Teignmouth began his crime spree by breaking into a house in Thurlow Road, Torquay, between April 5 and 8 and stealing car keys, tobacco and £60 cash.

He used the keys to take a Skoda which he drove without a licence or insurance and damaged before it was recovered – an offence known as aggravated vehicle taking.

He moved on to burgle houses in Burnley Road, Newton Abbot, and Audley Avenue, Torquay, on April 7, stealing car keys on both occasions and a mobile phone in one.

Povey’s final burglary was at Bourton Road, Totnes, between April 12 and 15, where he stole the keys to a VW Caddy van and a wallet containing a bank card.

He drove the van without consent and damaged it before it was recovered in Plymouth on April 16, when he was found carrying a craft knife.

Povey, aged 19, of Hutchings Way, Teignmouth, admitted four burglaries, two offences of aggravated vehicle taking, possession of a bladed article, vehicle interference, and driving with no licence or insurance.

He was remanded in custody pending sentence in two weeks’ time by Judge Peter Johnson, who ordered a probation pre-sentence report.

He told him: ‘You will receive appropriate credit for these guilty pleas and the case is adjourned for a probation report and for the defence to obtain a letter from your GP. Heed these words; that is no indication of the likely sentence. These are serious matters.’