Three jailed for celebrity burglaries

THREE MEN have been jailed after a burglary spree which targeted houses belonging to footballers and celebrities, including Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.

Thomas Mee, 42, Vincent Ball, 52, and John Barlow, 58, all from Liverpool, were sentenced at Chester Crown Court yesterday after admitting conspiracy to burgle.

Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay’s house in Buckinghamshire was among those targeted by the gang, as well as the homes of Bury FC chairman Steve Dale and Mansfield Town FC owner John Radford. Mee, of HMP Altcourse, who also admitted handling stolen goods, was jailed for eight years and seven months.

Getaway driver Ball, of Ranworth Place, Liverpool, was sentenced to six years and nine months, while Barlow, of no fixed address, was jailed for seven years and six months.

A spokesman from Cheshire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “They showed an extreme level of forensic and digital awareness when committing the offences, demonstrating their determination to obtain hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of other people’s property and family heirlooms.”

He said they caused damage and stole property to a total value of more than £600,000.

The court heard that the defendants attempted to burgle Sterling’s home in Goostrey, Cheshire, but were scared away by an alarm.

They targeted Jay Kay’s home, Horsenden Manor, in Buckinghamshire, and stole a camera.

On October 5, 2019, the burglars were disturbed while in the Prestbury home of Mr Dale and were chased away by his son.