Seven years for terror raid on Gerrard home

Martin Wilson was jailed for seven years and four months at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting to being part of a masked gang which cornered the England captain's wife and threatened to abduct the couple's children during a burglary at the star's home.

Gerrard's wife, Alex Curran, confronted the thieves when they broke into the family's luxury home in Formby, Merseyside, on a night when her husband was leading Liverpool to victory in a Champions League game against Marseille in December 2007.

Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, said Ms Curran, the two children, Lilly-Ella and Lexie, now aged six and four, and their nanny, Lyndsey Johnston, were in their bedrooms when, at about 9.30pm, a loud smash was heard from downstairs.

Describing how their ordeal unfolded, Mr Pickavance said Ms Curran and Miss Johnston met each other at the top of the stairs and saw a group of men walking out of the living room.

Ms Curran shouted to the men "Leave now", the barrister said, but the thieves raced up the stairs and grabbed hold of the women's arms.

One of them put his face right up to Ms Curran's and said "Where's the f****** safe?" and "Where's the f****** jewellery?"

After Ms Curran told the men there was no safe and jewellery was not kept at the house, one of the gang then directed another to "Get the blade out of the car", before another told Ms Curran: "If you don't tell us where the safe is, we'll take the kids."

Mr Pickavance said Ms Curran was "very frightened" and told the men the safe was in a cupboard downstairs so they then "dragged" her by the arm to where it was.

They also forced her to hand over the silver Rolex watch she was wearing.

He added: "The men attempted to take the safe but they could not move it very far because it was too heavy.

"So they began to ransack the room.

"As they did so, Miss Johnston was able to pick up a telephone and call the police.

"One of the men saw her so they demanded access to the CCTV system.

"Ms Curran told them she did not know how to work it and the men ran out of the house through french windows to the patio which had been smashed when they gained entry."

Mr Pickavance added: "This property was targeted as it is a large house with high value and powerful cars parked outside.

"The Crown cannot say, however, that it was targeted because it was Steven Gerrard's home."

Wilson, of Hollowcroft, Stockbridge Village, Merseyside, pleaded guilty to the burglary last month.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Warnock told him: "You are both venal and extremely violent. You have no regard for the dignity and security that is the right of every householder. Your actions are determined by your own selfishness and greed."

The judge said victim-impact statements described their continuing "shock and fright" at the ordeal.

Wilson is already serving six years and eight months in jail after admitting conspiracy to burgle at Liverpool Crown Court last June. His previous conviction relates to a string of violent robberies in the North West which involved raids on the homes of up to 16 wealthy families.

The hunt continues for the other members of the gang.

Stars became targeted men

A string of star footballers living in the north west have been victims of burglaries, but Merseyside Police said Wilson was not linked to any of those other incidents.

Last September, Everton and former Sheffield United defender Phil Jagielka was robbed at knifepoint at his Cheshire home – the 21st Premier League player living in the north west to be targeted in the last three years.

The burglaries appear to have been timed to coincide with football matches the star players were due to be playing. Other victims include Pepe Reina, Robbie Keane, Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch.