TWO burglars broke into a Gwent service station and used an angle grinder to saw open a cash machine - before making off with cash and goods worth £36,000.

Newport crown court heard that Albie Johnson, 19, and 21-year-old Clinton Bowen who both live in the Gloucester area, burgled the Overmonnow Service Station in Monmouth in March 2001.

The two carried out what was described as a "highly sophisticated professional commercial burglary", cutting telephone cables and power supplies to the garage and 40 homes in the area before using an angle grinder power tool to saw open a Nationwide cash point.

The two made off with a massive haul including £18,570 from the machine, £3,000 of mobile top-up cards, £8,500 worth of cigarettes and the previous day's takings of over £6,100.

They then made their getaway in a £12,000 Toyota Corolla which they stole from the adjacent Wye Knot car rentals.

Bowen, of Zimian Close, Gloucester, and Johnson of Land Lodge, Gloucester, pleaded guilty to the burglary. They will be brought back before Judge David Morris for sentencing in two weeks.

The garage's proprietor, Keith Bishop, said after the hearing: "If they get 20 years each, it would not be enough."

Leighton Hughes, prosecuting, told the court that the two were caught after a police chase in the West Country where they were seen throwing balaclavas and gloves out of the car window.

Forensic scientists later found traces of metal filings matching those from the cash point on the balaclavas.

When the two were arrested, they had £6,000 in cash stuffed in their pockets which they claimed was from selling a car earlier that day. Police then found a "burglar's kit" in the boot containing a crowbar, torch and plastic handle hammers.

During interview, Johnson told police: "Why don't you catch some real criminals instead."

Mr Hughes said: "This was a highly sophisticated professional commercial burglary."

Bowen has ten previous convictions for burglary, while Johnson is currently serving a two-year sentence for burglary.

Prosecutors offered no evidence in the case of a third defendant, Danny O'Coughlin, 27, from New Acres, Reading, who was found not guilty of conspiracy to burgle.