Boy, 13, admits spate of burglaries across London's top hotels

A 13-year-old boy has admitted carrying out a spate of burglaries at some of London's top luxury hotels and the BBC Television Centre.

The boy, who was 12 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to raids on Claridge's in Mayfair, Kensington's Milestone Hotel, The Millennium Hotel in Knightsbridge, and the Corinthia Hotel in Whitehall, Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court was told on Wednesday.

During the hearing, he also admitted targeting offices of retailer The White Company and the Publicis media agency within the BBC complex in White City, west London.

The string of burglaries, which took place between April 2021 and January 2022, also included thefts from a restaurant and a number of high street shops, including Holland & Barrett, TK Maxx and Sainsbury's.

Items stolen during the spree included cash, bank cards, cosmetics, a MacBook, phones and a scooter, the court heard.

During a burglary at one hotel, the teenager and his 14-year-old brother, then 13, obtained the master key and gained access to a number of rooms, the prosecution said.

The two boys, who cannot be identified because of their age, were accompanied by their mother when they appeared in court for the hearing.

The 13-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 charges of burglary while his older brother admitted involvement in two.

Kristin Heimark, prosecuting, said most of the offences involved the boy gaining access to private areas of the businesses.

Describing one hotel raid, she said: "They have snuck in, gotten the master key, and then gone to various rooms looking for things."

The prosecution brought no evidence in relation to a further alleged burglary at a restaurant against both boys, and two more alleged incidents at a second restaurant and the Four Seasons Hotel in Park Lane against the younger of the two. The charges were then dismissed.

The two brothers are due to be sentenced in September and were released on conditional bail until their next court appearance.