A VODAFONE contractor called out to an alarm at a Chester cell tower hut saw a camping tent and thousands of pounds of damage to the site.

When he shouted to see if anyone was there, a woman appeared through the entrance flap, while a man's voice said: "I bet you're surprised to find us here!"

The two people in the tent – Darren McGovern, 41, of Sycamore Drive, Lache, Chester and Melissa Miles, 25, of Dorchester Road, Lache, Chester – were initially charged with causing damage to the cell tower hut, but no evidence could be found against them so the charge was dropped.

But as both defendants had plugged in electrical items at the site, they were instead charged with dishonestly using electricity.

They both pleaded guilty to that charge when they appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, January 25.

Prosecuting, Rob Youds told the court it was on January 7 when the contractor, who worked for Ericsson on behalf of Vodafone, attended the site following a "non-urgent alarm".

It was estimated there was between £10k and £20k of damage at the site, but there was no evidence McGovern or Miles had caused it.

An alarm had previously gone off on November 22, 2018 and January 2, but no-one came out on those days to investigate.

Miles was homeless and had been sleeping at the tent. She saw there was a hole at the site and the tent was already there.

She did not do anything with the electrics but plugged in a halogen light heater and a mobile phone charger.

Miles then asked McGovern to stay at the hut, and he did so.

He did not do anything to the site but he did bring a sandwich maker to plug in.

Miles had 18 previous convictions for 27 offences, including theft.

McGovern had six previous convictions for 10 offences, the most recent for theft on December 28, 2018.

Richard Simm, defending McGovern, said McGovern had been invited to the tent, did not cause any damage, and volunteered the information he had brought a sandwich maker to plug into one of the sockets.

He accepted he had no permission to do that, but had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Peter Barnett, defending Miles, said she admitted using the halogen heater and mobile phone charger, but it was a "fairly low-level" offence.

He added: "Do we charge everyone who plugs their phone into the court's sockets to charge it up?"

Mr Barnett said Miles was "sofa-sitting" at the moment.

A probation report heard Miles had recently started attending appointments as part of an existing order, but more was needed from her.

Both defendants were handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.