Three men have admitted stealing scrap metal they found.

Stefan Ham, 39, and Vasile-dan Covaci, 33, both of Lea Bridge Road in Leyton, and Alin Florin Horoge, 24, of Oliver Road in Leyton, admitted stealing £196 worth of lead from a Mr Laurencin in court on Friday.  

Appearing at Thames Magistrates Court on March 13, Ham and Covaci were each handed a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £15 in victim surcharge costs.

Horoge re-appeared at Thames Magistratees Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and ordered to pay costs of £145. 

Police became suspicious of the men after they were spotted walking along Lea Bridge Road with a pram filled with scrap metal on March 12 at 2:30pm.