Two men admit they were involved in a conspiracy in which Declan Donnelly’s £70,000 Range Rover was stolen from his £70,000 west London home – as well as £750,000 luxury cars from a number of other driveways

Two men have finally admitted their involvement in a criminal conspiracy to steal £750,000 worth of luxury cars from driveways – including I’m a Celeb host Declan Donnelly’s Range Rover.

Charlie Kavanagh, 28, and Ryan Crafts, 30, had previously denied their involvement in the conspiracy. But on the eve of their trial, both changed their guilty plea.

A judge released the jury today, telling them there will “always” be defendants who change their pleas just moments before evidence against them is due to be found.

Kavanagh and Crafts have been released on bail pending their sentencing hearing, which will take place at an as yet unspecified date that may become known after another hearing on Friday.

Earlier hearings had revealed that the £70,000 black Range Rover owned by ‘I’m a Celeb’ host Dec, who joined Ant McPartlin last night for the 22nd year running, won the Best TV Presenter award at the National Television Awards , was targeted by the gang .

The gang tried to tear down the iron gate that surrounded his family’s £5million home in west London. But by the time police arrived at the property in the early hours of April 6, 2021, they had already fled empty-handed.

Declan Donnelly pictured with TV partner Ant McPartlin on the set of I’m A Celeb

Dec Donnelly’s £5million home was attacked by a ‘professional’ gang of burglars while the TV star slept upstairs with his wife and baby daughter (pictured together).

Donnelly is said to have been sleeping in the house with his wife Ali Astall, 44, and their young daughter at the time of the attempted robbery, unaware of the criminal activity outside their windows.

Kavanagh, who wore a gray suit, admitted charges of conspiracy to steal, handling stolen goods and two counts of theft. Crafts, who wore a dark suit, also confessed to conspiracy to commit theft, handling stolen goods and one theft.

The couple were part of a sophisticated criminal network targeting “high value cars” from the driveways of unsuspecting victims.

In exonerating the jury, your Honorary Judge, Anne Brown, said to them, “I will release you from hearing those charges for which you were responsible.” This was because police identified a large number of people involved in the theft of high value cars, mostly from private driveways.

“We would have heard that many of these individuals had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal an auto.” Others pleaded guilty to actual crimes that indicated their involvement. Also those two defendants, Mr Crafts and Mr Kavanagh, yesterday pleaded guilty to the offense which reflected their involvement: theft and handling of stolen goods.

Two men have finally admitted their involvement in a criminal conspiracy to steal £750,000 of luxury cars from driveways – including I’m a Celeb host Declan Donnelly’s Range Rover

“I must now make arrangements to determine when the sentencing can take place.” With the sentencing, the responsibility shifts to me.

“I want to thank you all very much. I am extremely grateful to all of you for declaring your willingness to be a part of this process. There will always be defendants who wait for the evidence to be collected and then decide to plead guilty. That is what these defendants did.”

The judge confirmed that she had ordered a pre-sentence report for Crafts, and prosecutor Nicholas Dunham told her he would be contacting defense representatives for other defendants to find out if more reports would be requested ahead of another hearing on Friday.

Friday’s hearing will be for Alfie Chandler and Tommy Hutchinson, who are also believed to be involved in the auto theft conspiracy.

There is hope that Kavanagh and Craft can be convicted along with their co-defendants.

Mr Dunham said: “We can hopefully have the sentencing hearing within the next month or a month and a half.”

The judge added: “I will negotiate the verdict together with everyone as far as I can.”

“Right now I can’t give a date for the sentencing. “We can strive on Friday to get a full picture of what we want to do calendar-wise.”