In court for Ecclestone raid, cleaner ‘found wearing £300,000 earrings’
A CLEANER charged over a £ 50million raid on Tamara Ecclestone’s home was wearing £300,000 diamond earrings when she was held at an airport, a court has heard.
Maria Mester, 47, was allegedly wearing 18-carat diamond jewels identical to those stolen from the heiress when police swooped as she flew into the UK from Italy.
The Romanian and her son EmilBogdan Savastru were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary over the heist at Miss Ecclestone’s £70million mansion on ‘Billionaires’ Row’ in Kensington, west London, before Christmas.
Mester and Savastru, 29, a bartender in London, appeared together in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
JPs heard Savastru was found in possession of a Louis Vuitton bag similar to one taken in the raid.
Miss Ecclestone, the daughter of ex-Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, had left the country with her husband Jay Rutland for a threeweek holiday the day their home was burgled on December 13.
She was said to have been left ‘shaken’ by the raid at the 55-room property near Hyde Park, where neighbours include Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and the Sultan of Brunei.
Prosecutor Simon Arloff said: ‘A group of individuals entered the residence of Tamara Ecclestone and her partner.
‘They stole property to the estimated value of £50million ... currency, jewellery and watches.’
Mester was arrested on January 31 at Stansted while Savastru was stopped at Heathrow the day before as he prepared to fly to Japan. Mester, who lives in Italy, and Savastru, of Bethnal Green, east London, spoke only to confirm their names and addresses. They are yet to enter a plea to the charges but are understood to deny them.
They were remanded in custody and are due to appear at Isleworth Crown Court later this month.
Two men, aged 21 and 31, who were also arrested in London have been released under investigation, police said.