A Bristol family man has admitted defrauding a communications company of £18,000 by dishonestly acquiring almost 60 state-of-the-art mobile phones and more than 80 sim cards.

Matthew Cains, of All Saints Close, Longwell Green admitted the offences when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court.

The 29-year-old admitted three counts of theft of property belonging to Uplands Mobile Ltd managing director Paul Hooper between October 2, 2008 and November 18, 2008.

The property he stole included more than 10 iPhones, 20 BlackBerry phones as well as USB modems and 84 sim cards.

Cains also admitted two counts of using a false instrument with intent and two counts of forgery.

Richard Shepherd, defending, requested a pre-sentence report for his client. "Mr Cains is a man of good character and he is a family man," Mr Shepherd said.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Cains: "By ordering a pre-sentence report, I don't want you for a minute to think you are not in very serious trouble."

Cains will be sentenced on August 7. He is on unconditional bail.