Burglar ‘stole £1m of jewellery from open safe at Cowell’s home’
A PROLIFIC burglar ransacked the £35million home of Simon Cowell as the pop mogul and his family slept, a court heard yesterday.
Darren February, 34, stole jewellery worth nearly £1million from a safe that had been left open after sneaking past a security guard, a jury was told.
He is alleged to have scaled a garden wall and broken into the four- storey mansion through a patio door – having first tried the front door – as Cowell, his partner Lauren Silverman, 39, their twoyear- old son Eric and his nanny were asleep.
February is accused of taking watches worth £200,000, diamond rings worth £500,000, diamond earrings worth £220,000 and diamond bracelets worth £50,000 as well as two passports belonging to the X Factor judge.
He was almost caught as he fled the house in the upmarket Holland Park area of West London at around 1.30am on December 4, 2015, Isleworth Crown Court heard.
A security guard patrolling the street by car noticed a man drop something and discovered it was one of Cowell’s passports.
He went to the mogul’s house, saw a door was open and gave chase to the suspect, who dropped a bag containing jewellery boxes, watches and small items of jewellery.
The security guard later identified February, and two police officers who saw CCTV of the raid recognised the burglar from their previous dealings with him, the court was told.
Gloves bearing February’s DNA were found at the scene.
Prosecutor Denis Barry said February was a serial thief who has targeted the rich and famous in Holland Park, where residents include Sir Richard Branson, Sir Elton John, Robbie Williams and Jimmy Page.
‘Over the years Mr February has committed 37 burglaries, and what is more relevant is most of these were in this area,’ Mr Barry said. ‘You don’t have to be a sociologist to know these are some of the wealthiest areas.’
Cowell told of his shock at being woken by his security guard to discover that a burglar had been prowling around his home.
The 57-year- old, who did not attend the trial, said in a statement read to the court: ‘Myself and Lauren went to bed at 12.30am on the morning of the burglary, and I believe that my nanny and son were already asleep.
‘I next remember being woken by Simon Williams who said here had been an incident in the property, we had been robbed and should stay in the room.
‘Lauren and myself had then asked about our son and we were very concerned about making sure he was all right.’
The safe, in a wardrobe in one of the bedrooms, had been left open as Miss Silverman was due to fly abroad that morning, he said.
February, formerly of North Kensington, West London, denies burglary. The trial continues.
‘Concerned about our son’