GAZZA’S TEARS AS COPS DROP £140K RAID PROBE
Heartache for football legend
PAUL Gascoigne has been left in tears again after police dropped their probe into a raid at his home.
Gazza, famed for his 1990 World Cup blub, was devastated to learn the thieves – who escaped with items worth £140,000 – have dodged justice.
Their September 2020 haul included a £40,000 diamond-encrusted watch bought with Gazza’s first Tottenham pay packet.
The former footballer also said they took a gold timepiece given to him by his late dad John, as well as a Scottish league medal from Rangers FC.
The burglars may have been alerted to the fact Gazza was not home after Piers Morgan posted a picture of him sitting in the Life Stories audience on Twitter.
Gazza, 54, told the Sunday People: “Losing those things broke my heart. They were from times in my life I’ll never forget.
“Knowing I’ll never get them back makes me furious. Someone stole them because they wanted to make quick money but they
were priceless to me.” Gazza was targeted by thieves after he travelled to London to support his pal Vinnie Jones as he appeared on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories.
Former Wimbledon midfielder Vinnie was being interviewed for the ITV show when Piers spotted Gazza in the studio.
The host posted a snap online, and wrote: “Great to see Gazza in the Life Stories audience today, supporting his old nutcracking mate Vinnie Jones.”
Hours later, Gazza returned to his home in Poole, Dorset, to discover his prized possessions missing.
The star – who won 57 caps for England between 1988 and 1998 – reported the loss of five watches, two bracelets, three rings, diamond earrings, £800 designer sunglasses and a genuine New York Police Department badge. Gazza also told how two steaks had even been swiped from the freezer.
The burglary followed a string of raids on footballers’ homes, including that of England ace Dele Alli, 25. Alli was attacked by armed raiders when they broke into his London home in May 2020 and demanded his valuables.
Dorset Police said yesterday: This matter was the subject of a detailed investigation but no arrests have been made.
“The investigation has concluded but, as with any case, we will explore any new lines of inquiry should they emerge.”