Two men who travelled to the Forest of Dean to steal tens of thousands of pounds worth of precious metals from a recycling centre have been warned they face prison sentences.

Thomas Nightingale, 20, of Dilmore Ave, Worcester and Shaun Hyde, 36, of Lawfred Ave, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton pleaded guilty at Gloucester crown court yesterday to stealing 21 bags of precious metal powder valued between £23K and £55K from BASF Metal Recycling Ltd of Forest Vale Industrial Estate, Cinderford on 18 October this year.

Prosecutor, Janine Wood, told Judge Ian Lawrie QC, "This event was not just a few minutes. CCTV shows breaking in from the fence. Security come along, they leave, and then they come back later."

Mrs Wood said the offence took place 'over a period of hours with four people involved. The two other men are still at large, the court heard.

"They did not manage to leave with the items they put into sacks," the prosecutor added. ""Mr Smallwood, site manager, said they [BASF] receive automotive material, mill it down for precious metals, and then send to USA for further refining.

"Each 'super sized bag' is worth £60-£70,000."

Mrs Wood said the men 'broke in via the metal palisade fence at the rear of site'.

She said security later found fifteen small white sacks.

"One of the large super sized sacks ready for shipment had been emptied," she added.

"Valued at up to £55,000 in this case, it is not easily able to be quantified."It is over a period of hours, not just once, they come back after being initially disrupted. It was a group action to steal those items."

Mrs Wood continued: "The police were contacted as they had been spotted on the cameras, when they attended the intruders had moved off.

"At 4am, the police returned to conduct patrols. The saw a Vauxhall Zafira near the site. It was insecure and the engine was warm."

That vehicle was registered to Mr Hyde, the court heard. At 5.35am the police saw a black Audi speed past them which then parked level with the Zafira.

"Three men came out and moved to the Zafira," Mrs Wood said. "but ran off when they saw the police. At 7am a PCSO saw a black Audi in the area," the prosecutor continued. "It was stopped in Cinderford.

"Mr Hyde was driver, Nightingale was the passenger, both appeared dirty. They were arrested.

The court heard the Audi belonged to Mr Hyde.

The judge noted they were 'trekking down from The Midlands to steal metal of some value'.

The judge ruled the men were 'stealing goods to order'.

"These two have gone to the set of premises with a clear set of instructions," the judge said. "They have crossed the custody threshold.

"I make it clear, that this is serious. However it has arisen this is a targeted premises. At the moment they are looking at custody," the judge said.

The court heard Hyde had 19 previous convictions for 29 offences, whilst Nightingale had 4 previous court appearances for 9 offences

The case against both men was adjourned until 30th January 2019. Hyde was granted bail, but Nightingale was accompanied out of court by police officers as they executed a warrant for his arrest in relation to an allegation that he had breached a probation order.