Jailed... gang who burgled stars’ homes
A GANG of burglars who targeted the properties of millionaires, including the home of England footballer Raheem Sterling, was jailed yesterday for more than 22 years.
The “utterly shameful” trio travelled hundreds of miles, selecting houses of the rich and famous.
Musician Jay Kay, from Jamiroquai, was another target when they raided his Buckinghamshire home in 2018, Chester Crown Court heard.
They would have netted £500,000 in one raid had they not dropped a watch collection belonging to Bury FC owner Stephen Dale as they fled his mansion in Prestbury, Cheshire. The gang used a ladder to break into master bedrooms.
As Vincent Ball, 52, John Barlow, 58, and Thomas Mee, 42, were sentenced yesterday, judge Steven Everett told them: “These were crimes of envy. You never had any feelings for your victims, you were driven by sheer greed.
“What you did was utterly shameful. Just because your victims are rich and famous does not mean they do not have feelings.
“They are decent, hard-working people whose property you targeted. These were sophisticated crimes using carefully chosen false number plates and burglary kits that included balaclavas. Imagine the effect a gang of masked men would have on these families? “You netted just short of £516,000, none of which has been recovered. If you had not dropped the watches it would have been over £1million.” Barlow, of no fixed address, Mee, in jail for other offences, and Ball, of Liverpool, admitted conspiracy to burgle in 14 raids in 2018 and 2019. Mee was jailed for eight years and seven months, Barlow seven-and-ahalf years while Ball got six years and nine months.The gang were disturbed at Sterling’s home in Goostrey, Cheshire, and only stole a camera at Jay Kay’s home when spotted by a housekeeper.
The burglary kits also included binoculars and torches.