TWO criminals behind a burglary spree have been warned that they face spending a considerable time behind bars.

Lindsay Hilden, 35, and Peter Flowers, 42, appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday for a sentencing hearing.

However, the case was adjourned for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider more evidence.

Hilden, who also goes under the alias of Lindsay West, previously admitted conspiracy to burgle 43 homes.

She broke into dozens of homes - the majority of which are thought to have been on Canvey - between November 12 last year and February 2.

Hilden admitted another single charge of burglary at an address in Silvertown Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope, between January 1 and January 14.

During that burglary, car keys, a wallet and a handbag were stolen.

Unemployed Flowers has also admitted conspiracy to burgle 23 homes.

The pair, who were once dubbed South Essex’s “most wanted burglars” after they went on the run, are registered as having no fixed addresses but are understood to come from Canvey.

At the court, Judge Samantha Leigh made the decision to adjourn the hearing and said: “The sentence is going to be years and not months.

“They are not going anywhere.”

Karl Volz, mitigating for Flowers, added: “It is inevitable that he is going to get a custodial sentence of years and he he accepts that.”

During the hearing, the court heard that Hilden had wanted to plead guilty on the basis that she was acting under duress from Flowers, which was not accepted by the court. As he was led to the cells, Flowers laughed loudly and shouted: “Good one, nice try!”

Following the court hearing, Det Sgt Jennifer Payne, from Operation Titan, who helped investigate Hilden and Flowers, said: “We have spent several months investigating them and trying to locate them.

“We are happy that they have admitted some of the offences they are responsible for.”