Armed police were on patrol outside a court as a man admitted conspiring to steal sports cars worth £200,000.

Paul Hannon, 29, helped take 11 high-performance cars on display during a late-night raid on November 12 last year.

Acting on confidential information from Lewes Prison, where he had been held in custody, police officers were on guard in and around Chichester Crown Court to stop any possible bid to escape.

The judge ordered Hannon to be placed in handcuffs before he was led into the court yesterday afternoon. Barrister Sarah Earley, defending, objected to the ruling but Judge Barratt said: "It is anticipated he will make a determined attempt to abscond."

The 11 cars - including a £35,000 Jaguar convertible and a £28,000 BMW convertible - were taken from the Roundstone Car Centre, in Mayflower Way, Angmering, between November 12 and 13.

Fencing at the compound was cut before the vehicles were driven off.

Hannon, formerly of Wentworth Close, Worthing, was arrested within days and most of the cars were found parked in Worthing streets.

At yesterday's hearing, Hannon also pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Mercedes on November 15 last year.

He will be sentenced at a later date.