THE sentencing of three men for a string of burglaries across Wiltshire was adjourned today due to a spelling error by the prison service.

Staff at HMP Bullingdon failed to transport defendant Jesse Gregory to Swindon Crown Court after spelling his name “Jessie” on their paperwork.

Due to the error Gregory was not present at court.

Gregory, 50, who lives near Chippenham, was due to be sentenced alongside David Royles, 53 and Joseph Butler, 25 for their parts in a large-scale burglary conspiracy.

The investigation covered 120 offences at commercial properties in five force areas in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, West Mercia, Thames Valley and Devon and Cornwall.

The gang targeted safes and caused an estimated £500,000 of damage to properties in the commission of the offences and stole around £250,000 in cash.

Prosecutor Barnaby Shaw said a misspelling of Gregory’s name had led to him not being present at court.

“Unfortunately there was an error in the spelling of Mr Gregory’s first name which unfortunately was not picked up by prison staff," he said.

Judge Tim Mousley QC responded he could not continue on with the sentencing and adjourned the hearing.

“I don’t know what has happened but clearly I cannot only sentence two of you on your own. It must come back for sentence as soon as possible,” he said.

Gregory, of School Hill, Brinkworth, remains in custody.

Royles, of Sandhurst Lane, Gloucester, was remanded in custody while Butler, of The Willows caravan site, Sandhurst, Gloucester, was released on conditional bail.