AN ISLE of Wight teenager and his accomplice broke into a parked van in the dead of night and stole three slushie machines, costing the family-run business thousands of pounds in lost earnings.

Harrison Mills-Jones, of Queens Road, East Cowes, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, November 12.

The 18-year-old admitted theft from a motor vehicle, on Snowberry Road in Newport, on May 2.

Prosecutor, Lauren McConnell, said Mills-Jones, together with another, stole three slushie drinks machines to the value of £9,000.

His co-defendant, 30-year-old Lewis Stansfield, of Manor Crescent in Newport, indicated a guilty plea at a previous hearing on October 29 and is due to be sentenced on January 10.

The court heard police were alerted after receiving a call from a witness who reported two males were breaking into the back of a parked van.

Ms McConnell said at around 2.50am, the pair were detained, with Mills-Jones found sat in the passenger’s seat of his accomplice’s Hyundai.

She said two slush machines were found in the car, and the third was recovered.

The van’s owner, who runs family-run business The Slush Factory, said two lids to the machines were found on the ground and the locks to the van had been snapped off.

The court heard £450 was needed to repair the damage and £2,500 was lost in earnings while the machines were in police possession.

Ms McConnell said Mills-Jones was 17 years old at the time of the offence.

Tom Cooke, defending, said Mills-Jones didn’t go out to steal on the night and his co-defendant was significantly older than him.  

He said he was sorry for what he had done and was keen to put it behind him.

Mills-Jones saw his case adjourned to January 24.

He was granted unconditional bail until that date and magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report be drawn up.