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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Man jailed over footballer raid | Man jailed over footballer raid |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for handling a haul of goods stolen from the Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva. | A man has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for handling a haul of goods stolen from the Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva. |
| Raiders took more than 150 items from the 22-year-old Brazilian's home in Woolton on 4 November 2008. | Raiders took more than 150 items from the 22-year-old Brazilian's home in Woolton on 4 November 2008. |
| The haul included football shirts from his debut, a bronze Olympic medal and boots embossed with his name. | The haul included football shirts from his debut, a bronze Olympic medal and boots embossed with his name. |
| Steven Jones, 21, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting his part in the burglary. | Steven Jones, 21, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting his part in the burglary. |
| Computers, electrical equipment, sporting memorabilia and a collection of jewellery and handbags belonging to Lucas's girlfriend were also taken in the raid. | Computers, electrical equipment, sporting memorabilia and a collection of jewellery and handbags belonging to Lucas's girlfriend were also taken in the raid. |
| 'Debut shirts' | 'Debut shirts' |
| The footballer had been playing at Anfield against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League when the raid took place. | The footballer had been playing at Anfield against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League when the raid took place. |
| Geoff Fryar, prosecuting, said the footballer's partner had returned home first after watching the game and found the premises had been burgled. | Geoff Fryar, prosecuting, said the footballer's partner had returned home first after watching the game and found the premises had been burgled. |
| A ladder had been used to get into the house through the bathroom. | A ladder had been used to get into the house through the bathroom. |
| You have a bad record for offences involving dishonesty Judge Brian Lewis | |
| Mr Fryar added: "In excess of 150 sports items and valuable pieces of jewellery and three computers were taken. | Mr Fryar added: "In excess of 150 sports items and valuable pieces of jewellery and three computers were taken. |
| "A great deal of it was sporting memorabilia with great sentimental value, such as a bronze Olympic medal, and a variety of football shirts which were of particular value to the complainant because they commemorated his debut games for Liverpool." | "A great deal of it was sporting memorabilia with great sentimental value, such as a bronze Olympic medal, and a variety of football shirts which were of particular value to the complainant because they commemorated his debut games for Liverpool." |
| Police searched the two homes that Jones used - one in Deansburn Road, Tuebrook, and the other in Lowerson Crescent in Clubmoor. | Police searched the two homes that Jones used - one in Deansburn Road, Tuebrook, and the other in Lowerson Crescent in Clubmoor. |
| In both properties, and inside Jones' car, were stashes of the Reds midfielder's belongings. | In both properties, and inside Jones' car, were stashes of the Reds midfielder's belongings. |
| Lucas, who has played twice for Brazil, and his girlfriend later identified their property at a police station. | Lucas, who has played twice for Brazil, and his girlfriend later identified their property at a police station. |
| Players targeted | |
| Jones, who had previously served 16 months at a young offenders' institution, told police he was simply minding the items for men he refused to name. | Jones, who had previously served 16 months at a young offenders' institution, told police he was simply minding the items for men he refused to name. |
| But Judge Brian Lewis, said: "In my view, you weren't simply minding that property because the property was divided at three separate locations. | |
| "I have to decide how close you were to the burglars and I come to the conclusion you were close to them. It is inevitable you knew where it had come from. | |
| Florent Sinama Pongolle was one of seven other players burgled | |
| "You have a bad record for offences involving dishonesty." | |
| Jones was jailed for two years for handling stolen goods and six months for driving while disqualified, the sentences to run consecutively. He was also banned from driving for two years. | |
| In 2007, James Birch, 20, of Tuebrook, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for burgling the homes of ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, defender Daniel Agger, England star Peter Crouch and former Reds striker Florent Sinama Pongolle. | |
| The crimes were part of a series of raids on the homes of Liverpool and Everton FC aces during the last two years. | |
| In December 2007 Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard's mansion was broken into when he was away on Champions League duty but his wife, Alex Curran, was home. | |
| The homes of the club's goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, and Holland forward Dirk Kuyt have also been targeted. |