Man behind Ashley Cole house raid is jailed for 30 years
HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN ROBBERY AT FOOTBALLER TOM HUDDLESTONE’S HOME AND PART OF CONSPIRACY TO STEAL £3.5M PORTLAND TIARA
VICIOUS robber Kurtis Dilks has received a 30-year jail sentence for his part in the terrifying raid at the home of former England left back Ashley Cole and his partner.
Wearing a face mask in the dock at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday, the “lifestyle criminal”, from Clifton, showed no emotion as he was sentenced.
Dilks, of Whitegate Vale, was previously found guilty of robbing Cole and his partner Sharon Canu.
He was also convicted for being part of a conspiracy to rob the home of former Tottenham and Derby midfielder Tom Huddlestone along with co-defendants Ashley Cumberpatch, 36, formerly of First Avenue, Carlton, and Andrew Macdonald, 42, of Berridge Road West, The Arboretum.
Dilks was sentenced to 30 years with a five-year extended period on licence for the horrific raid on Ashley Cole’s home.
Mr Cole said in a victim impact statement: “The attack on my home, my family and me, and the situation it created, has led to a large range of emotions.
“For me, being in that situation with a gang of men in my house and seeing terror and confusion on my young children’s faces will never leave me,” added the ex-arsenal, Chelsea and Derby defender, who was not at court for the sentencing yesterday.
Judge James Sampson said Dilks – a convicted burglar – and his gang had smashed their way into the home of Mr Cole and his partner, tied them up and threatened to cut off Mr Cole’s finger with pliers.
“You made him think he was going to die,” added the judge. “You targeted him because of his perceived wealth.”
Dilks was found guilty of 13 charges, including his role in a jewellery heist plot to steal a £3.5m tiara from at the Harley Gallery, Welbeck Estate.
Cumberpatch, Macdonald and Dilks were all found guilty on July 8 of conspiracy to burgle at the Harley Gallery, which they denied.
The 13-week trial heard that it was a heist planned with military precision involving the theft of the historic Portland Tiara and diamond brooch from an armoured glass display.
The judge said the £3.75m haul was culturally priceless and described it as “a heinous act on the country’s heritage”.
The headline offence for both Cumberpatch and Macdonald (which also involved Dilks) was a conspiracy to rob a couple’s home in Burton Avenue, Carlton. They wore masks and went in armed with knives and other weapons.
Macdonald cut part of the terrified householder’s ear off and threatened to cut off a thumb.
He was beaten and threatened with death before he was bundled into a car and taken to his mother’s home where her jewellery and Rolex watch were stolen.
Cumberpatch’s overall sentence was 24 years in prison and five years on extended licence, while Macdonald received 32 years – 27 years in prison and five on extended licence.
Cumberpatch, Macdonald and co-defendants Christopher Yorke, 49, of Rose Ash Lane, Arnold, Tevfik Guccuk, 39 of Houndsden Road, Southgate, London, and Sercan Evsin, 25, of Meadow Close, Barnet, were also found guilty of converting criminal property in relation to the stolen items. More than four million pounds-worth of stolen property went through a Hatton Garden jewellers and only some of it has been recovered.
Yorke, a lorry driver who was recruited to provide transport for Macdonald, received 12 months in prison, suspended for 21 months, with 21 hours of unpaid work.
Guccuk and Evsin, both jewellers with no convictions, were sentenced to seven years and five years respectively.