Three men were caught in the act stripping lead from the roof of a church in Walsall town centre in the early hours of the morning, a court heard.

David Jones and Lee Moreton, both of Darlaston, and Ryan Bedworth, of Birchills, targeted St Paul’s Church. Mrs Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, told Walsall Magistrates Court that two were spotted by Tracey Gibbs who helps manage Hi’s N Lows – a voluntary organisation at the church, which helps the homeless and people with alcohol and drug issues.

“At 3am she was at work and heard footsteps on the roof,” Mrs Meakin told the court.“She went outside and saw two men and called police.”

Officers found and arrested all three defendants at the church in Darwall Street when they arrived.

The court heard that they had climbed onto the roof and had been removing strips of lead, which were later recovered.

During interview the defendants expressed remorse and claimed they had been living together but had no food, electricity or heating, Mrs Meakin said.

She added Rev Mark Kinder from the church had  been unable to say how much lead was removed or the extent of the damage.

Jones, aged 22, Moreton, 18, both of Old Park Road, and Bedworth, 19, of Green Lane, admitted the February 3 theft when they appeared at court yesterday.

Mr Kuldeep Delay, who represented all three defendants, told magistrates it was important to know the value of the damage caused by the theft before sentencing options were considered.

The case was adjourned until March 1 for further inquiries to be made. They men were given conditional bail.

It comes after £40,000 of lead was stolen from St Matthew’s Church in Walsall last September.