FATHER and son burglars and a trader trawled wealthy villages to steal antiques worth more than £75,000 from vulnerable elderly residents.

Businessman Paul Ansbro knocked on doors at rural homes to find victims before Steven Abberley and his teenage son Mason Abberley broke in and stole treasured possessions ranging from silverware to wooden cabinets.

Antiques dealer Ansbro would knock the doors under the ruse of buying and selling antiques and then arrange for the father and son duo to burgle the homes.

They would either enter the homes while people were away or while the occupiers were asleep at night.

The trio, all from Hove, targeted homes in Goring, Washington, West Chiltington, Cowfold, Friston, Glynde and North Chailey as well properties in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

At Hove Crown Court Steven Abberley, 42, of Findon Close, admitted 12 charges of burglary.

His son Mason, 19, of Ventnor Villas, admitted eight burglary charges. Ansbro, 54, of Westbourne Gardens, pleaded guilty to four burglary charges. The 12 burglaries took place between December 31, 2013, and February 4, 2014.

Ansbro also pleaded guilty to two additional counts of handling stolen goods, on December 31, 2013, and on January 7, 2014.

Two other men, also appearing as part of the same hearing, were Keith Mollon, 59, of Nicolson Drive, Shoreham, and Timothy Delay, 59, of The Drive, Hove. The prosecution offered no evidence against Delay and he was discharged. Mollon pleaded guilty to possessing a small amount of cocaine and was given a 12-month conditional discharge.

Charmaine Wilson, defending Steven Abberley, told the court: “This is a man who has a number of health difficulties at the moment.” She added that he was undergoing counselling for suicidal thoughts and was a carer for his mother.

Mark Kessler, defending Mason Abberley, reminded the court that he was 18 when the offences occurred.

Jeffrey Lamb, defending Ansbro, said: “He’s a businessman and he wants the chance to put his house in order. He’s also involved in two charities.”

Judge Anthony Niblett said: “All these are very serious matters. Only immediate custodial sentences can follow.

“Given the fact that each of them has had the courage and good sense on the best legal advice to enter guilty pleas, I consider that it’s right to renew bail.

“The outcome is a satisfactory one in the public interest. None of you should be under any illusion. These are serious matters and a custodial sentence is inevitable.”

David Smith, prosecuting for the Crown, is now preparing impact statements from the victims, who are all elderly and some of whom had dementia or were vulnerable.

The three men will be sentenced on Friday, November 20.