Brothers who claimed they planned to walk seven miles with a hammer and crowbar to tackle a DIY project in the early hours of the morning, have been found guilty of going equipped for burglary.

Sean Everest, aged 19, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, and Paul Everest, aged 23, of Holloway, Haverfordwest, stood trial together at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday, July 16, after pleading not guilty to a charge of having articles for use in connection with burglary.

Sean Everest also denied being in possession of a lock knife in a public place without good reason.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that the pair were found to be carrying a hammer, gloves, holdalls, crowbar, screwdrivers and a torch, when police stopped to speak to them on Cromwell Road, Milford Haven at 2.45am on December 13.

Sean Everest told police he had forgotten he had his father’s lock knife in his pocket after placing it there to keep it away from his young cousin several hours earlier.

The bench heard that the brothers were walking in the direction of an industrial estate wearing dark clothing, with items that could be used in connection with burglary, and had not taken the most direct route to Haverfordwest where they claimed to be headed.

The Everests stated they were walking to Paul Everest’s new flat in Haverfordwest, which needed work before he moved in, and planned to use the screwdrivers to adjust a door and the crowbar to open a window which was stuck.

Mr Pritchard-Jones, said: “That is the most bizarre, ridiculous explanation. They did not intend to walk seven miles in the early hours of the morning, and neither defendant had a key to the address that they were going to.”

Magistrates found both brothers guilty of all charges and adjourned sentencing until July 18 for a probation report to be completed.

They were released on unconditional bail.