THREE men are on trial charged with a string of attempted burglaries across Oxfordshire.

Johnny Cash, 23, Anthony Doran, 20, and Michael Ward, 21, are all charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit burglary and the theft of a 4x4 vehicle – namely a Polaris Ranger.

A jury heard on Tuesday (February 13) at Oxford Crown Court, that a string of properties across West Oxfordshire had been targeted for vehicle thefts on April 25, 2019.

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Opening the trial, the prosecutor said: “This case includes a number of burglaries and theft of vehicles that took place across Oxfordshire on April 25, 2019.

“It’s the Crown Prosecution Service’s case that Johnny Cash, Anthony Doran, Michael Ward and a man called James Johnson conspired together with other men to burgle properties and steal vehicles in Oxfordshire.

“The Prosecution say this wasn’t an amateur operation. The defendants were forensically aware. They hid their identities and wore gloves to avoid leaving DNA the scene.”

A jury heard that Johnson is not on trial with the three other men as he has already pleaded guilty to both counts.

The first property which was targeted at about 6am in the morning was a four-bedroom home in Aston, Somerville.

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After waking up at 6.30am, the owner found the external door to the utility room was open and the cat flap removed.

The next property targeted at about 1.10pm in the afternoon was on Burford Road, Chipping Norton. A patio door in the five-bedroom home had been smashed in.

Next, a two-bedroom property in Chilton was targeted followed by a four-bedroom home in Brize Norton Road in Brize Norton.

The bungalow had been broken into by what the Prosecution stated was a screwdriver. The owner came home at 3.15pm to find it had been broken into.

A property in Upper Crescent, a three-bedroom bungalow, was next to be targeted and the Prosecution said there was also evidence a screwdriver had been used to gain entry as well as marks on the door to suggest it had been ‘kicked’.

Further properties were targeted throughout the day.

Some eyewitnesses saw an Audi in these areas at the time of the incidents which the Prosecution say was later connected to the three defendants.

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Only Ward, of Balham Grove, Wandsworth, is present in the dock at court while the other two men, Cash, of Crown Meadow, Slough, and Doran, of Green Lane, Sutton, are not present.

The jury have not be told why they are not in court but have been reassured they have attended previous hearings.

They have been told the two men will not be given evidence in person but have instructed their barristers.

The trial continues.