WILLINGALE villagers who turned undercover super-sleuths have been praised by police for helping to catch a man suspected of a string of burglaries involving property worth tens of thousands of pounds.

At key times when it was thought the burglar would strike they kept watch from strategic points in the village.

When the suspect was seen, a telephone warning went out across the area via their specially set up ring-round system.

Detective Constable Jean Seager said: "They did the garden and front lawn and were able to keep an eye out for vehicles that were strange.

"One elderly man spent the mornings standing in his ditch clipping his hedge so it looked like he was doing something."

She added: "Detective work is a jigsaw. It's a matter of piecing bits of information together.

"We were able to get a lot of bits of information which gave us a very good picture of the suspect, his movements and the type of premises he favoured.

"We were able to warn people who appeared more vulnerable.

"We were able to respond very quickly to a very remote area and the residents were able to watch for each other so that if people were away they were able to cover each others' homes."

DC Seager said the residents had a key part to play in the investigation.

"It was a pure community fightback," she said.

"They deserve a big pat on the back. It was a team effort with police officers also from Chelmsford but mainly a team effort with the residents in and around Willingale who made it safer because they were astute and aware."

An aggressive pheasant which villagers named Linford, after Linford Christie, because of the speed he ran along a road at Walls Green also played a part.

DC Seager said: "He'd chase all the vehicles. It became a bit of a joke. You couldn't get near Walls Green without it attacking you.

"When the suspect was captured he joked that he thought we'd trained it because it was so aggressive.

"It was like a guard pheasant and would march up and down the centre of the road."

Ronald Brown, 37, of no fixed abode, was on Monday warned that he faced a substantial prison sentence.

He admitted burglary at Radley Green, Radley Green Road, Willingale, on February 7, when property worth £13,000 , including a grandfather clock, sewing table and jewellery, was stolen.

Brown admitted stealing £100,000 worth of property, including a bracket clock, two Cloisonne incense burner ducks, two Cloisonne elephants and a silver salver, at Sparrows, School Road, Abbess Roding, on February 19.

And he admitted a £25,000 burglary in Danbury between March 17 and 20. Among the haul was a grandfather clock, silverware and figurines.

He also admitted an attempted burglary in Chelmsford Road, High Ongar, on March 4 and asked for eight other burglaries to be taken into consideration.

Judge Christopher Ball QC at Chelmsford Crown Court said he was dealing with a case involving numerous and substantial burglaries of selected and vulnerable properties committed by a man with a bad record.

But he said he had received a "remarkable letter" from Brown expressing regret and remorse and referring to his years of drug abuse.

Sentencing was adjourned until Friday, August 23, for pre-sentence reports to be prepared. Brown was remanded in custody.