A FORMER Tamworth FC player has gone on trial accused of burgling a cottage belonging to ex-Aston Villa star Lee Hendrie.
A jury at Warwick Crown Court heard this week how fingerprints belonging to James Francis were found on the torn backing of a framed football shirt taken in the burglary.
The unoccupied cottage was being used by Hendrie and his then partner – and now wife – Emma Cheal for storage while the main house was being rented out to striker Matt Derbyshire, who was on loan to the Blues at the time.
It is alleged that Francis broke in and stole a set of golf clubs, a pair of Cavalli boots, a quantity of designer sunglasses, a mobile phone, a pair of Gucci boots, a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, a Gucci clutch bag, two pairs of D&G shoes, a diamond earring, a jewellery box containing costume jewellery and six souvenir football shirts.
The football shirts said to have been taken were David Beckham and Wayne Rooney England shirts, Hendrie’s own England shirt from his only full international game, a signed Thierry Henry Arsenal shirt, a Frank Lampard Chelsea shirt and a Patrick Viera Arsenal shirt.
But during the trial it has also been put to Hendrie that he had been involved in a fraudulent insurance claim, and had been 'up to mischief', mentioning in court his publicly-known financial difficulties.
Prosecutor Trevor Meegan said Hendrie and Miss Cheal rented out the main house at Finwood Lawn to striker Matt Derbyshire and his family while he was on loan to Birmingham City for the 2010 to 2011 football season.
The midfielder, whose father Paul Hendrie managed Tamworth FC from 1995 to 2001, told the court they also rented out a two-bedroom cottage which was used by Matt Derbyshire’s mother.
But in May 2011 the main house was broken into while Hendrie and Miss Cheal were on holiday. On their return they found a large number of items had been taken.
When Francis was interviewed he denied any involvement.
Francis, who worked for a company called Clean Event, said he had been asked to clean the property. When he arrived at the house he found the door had been forced open and he had gone in to look around.
The trial continues.
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A jury at Warwick Crown Court heard this week how fingerprints belonging to James Francis were found on the torn backing of a framed football shirt taken in the burglary.
The unoccupied cottage was being used by Hendrie and his then partner – and now wife – Emma Cheal for storage while the main house was being rented out to striker Matt Derbyshire, who was on loan to the Blues at the time.
It is alleged that Francis broke in and stole a set of golf clubs, a pair of Cavalli boots, a quantity of designer sunglasses, a mobile phone, a pair of Gucci boots, a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, a Gucci clutch bag, two pairs of D&G shoes, a diamond earring, a jewellery box containing costume jewellery and six souvenir football shirts.
The football shirts said to have been taken were David Beckham and Wayne Rooney England shirts, Hendrie’s own England shirt from his only full international game, a signed Thierry Henry Arsenal shirt, a Frank Lampard Chelsea shirt and a Patrick Viera Arsenal shirt.
But during the trial it has also been put to Hendrie that he had been involved in a fraudulent insurance claim, and had been 'up to mischief', mentioning in court his publicly-known financial difficulties.
Prosecutor Trevor Meegan said Hendrie and Miss Cheal rented out the main house at Finwood Lawn to striker Matt Derbyshire and his family while he was on loan to Birmingham City for the 2010 to 2011 football season.
The midfielder, whose father Paul Hendrie managed Tamworth FC from 1995 to 2001, told the court they also rented out a two-bedroom cottage which was used by Matt Derbyshire’s mother.
But in May 2011 the main house was broken into while Hendrie and Miss Cheal were on holiday. On their return they found a large number of items had been taken.
When Francis was interviewed he denied any involvement.
Francis, who worked for a company called Clean Event, said he had been asked to clean the property. When he arrived at the house he found the door had been forced open and he had gone in to look around.
The trial continues.
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