Trio jailed for targeting rich & famous

THREE men have been jailed after a spate of burglaries on homes belonging to celebrities, footballers and wealthy business people.

Manchester City star Raheem Sterling and Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay were both targeted by the trio. Bury FC chairman Steve Dale and Mansfield Town FC owner John Radford were also victims.

Thomas Mee, 42, Vincent Ball, 52, and John Barlow, 58, were sentenced yesterday after admitting conspiracy to burgle at Chester crown court.

The court heard the defendants attempted to burgle Sterling’s home in Goostrey, Cheshire, in November, 2018, but were scared away when the alarm system was activated. Ten days later, Kay’s home, Horsenden Manor, in Buckinghamshire, was targeted. Jewellery, watches and handbags were taken from 14 properties across Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire. A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “Ball, Barlow and Mee are all members of a sophisticated organised crime gang. They caused damage and stole property to a value of £600,000.” Mee, of HMP Altcourse, was jailed for eight years and seven months. Ball, of Liverpool, got six years and nine months, and Barlow, of no fixed address, was jailed for seven years, six months.

VICTIM Jay Kay