A third member of a gang has admitted involvement in a sadistic burglary in which a businessman and his wife were seriously injured from boiling water being poured over them.

Daniel Wallace, 33, and Kacey Adams, 34, last month pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the couple’s home in Halstead, near Sevenoaks, while “armed” with cable ties and two offences of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

They denied two offences of false imprisonment, and they were left on file.

Drew Morris, 27, today denied aggravated burglary and admitted simple burglary when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court by video link with Elmley Prison on the Isle of Sheppey.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd asked for the remaining charges to be left on file.

Prosecutor Tracy Ayling QC said at the previous hearing that the three men burst into the couple’s home on April 26 last year and bound them with cable ties.

“They proceeded to pour boiling water over them in order to extract from them the combinations of two safes in the property,” she said.

They poured the water twice on the wife and once on her husband. They were held captive for two hours. An attempt to cut off the husband’s ears was also made.

“However, the Crown is satisfied that the seriousness of the offences is represented by the offences of aggravated burglary and grievous bodily harm,” said Miss Ayling.

The gang stole cash, jewellery, watches, premium bonds, foreign currency, cheque cards, documentation, a CCTV system, modem and contents of a drawer.

Wallace, of Barn House, St Mary’s, Barking, Essex, Adams, of Covert Road, Hainault, Ilford, Essex, and Morris, of Downhall Road, Rayleigh, Essex, have all been remanded in custody.

Judge Philip Statman said when Wallace and Adams admitted their guilt: “There are two victims of very serious offences.”

Judge Julian Smith said when Wallace first appeared in June that as well as the 66-year-old businessman and his wife, 64, suffering the ordeal of being badly burnt, they also attempted to cut off the husband’s ears.

Sentence is being transferred to Chelmsford Crown Court because Adams and Wallace are to be sentenced there for conspiracy to murder involving a drive by shooting in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex.

The victim survived a blast in the face from a shotgun fired from a stolen Mercedes as he sat in his transit van at traffic lights just yards from his home.

A date for sentence will be set at Chelmsford on Wednesday.