Former army man jailed for burglary of footballer Wayne Rooney’s house
A former serviceman has been jailed for two years and eight months for attempting to burgle Wayne Rooney’s mansion while the footballer played in his testimonial match.
Robert McNamara, 25, from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, admitted attempting to enter as a trespasser at the Manchester United striker’s family home in Prestbury, Cheshire, with intent to steal on August 3rd — the night United played his former club Everton at Old Trafford.
In a victim impact statement read at Chester Crown Court, the player’s wife Coleen said the incident had caused sleepless nights and had made her fear for the safety of their three children while playing in the garden.
Jo Maxwell, prosecuting, said McNamara, of Newby Farm Crescent, Scalby, had entered the grounds of the family’s home at about 8.30pm and had activated the perimeter alarm system.
CCTV showed him walking around the grounds, with his face covered by a balaclava, and trying a door handle.
The court heard police searching the grounds later found a rucksack, containing items including cable ties, a head torch and a balaclava, which had McNamara’s DNA on it.
When police searched his home, after arresting him six days later, they found a second rucksack containing a ski mask with black tape over it, which the court heard could have been used as a blindfold.
Police described seeing a man acting suspiciously when they arrived at the home but said he got into his car and drove away after seeing them arrive.
In a victim impact statement which was read to the court, Mrs Rooney said: “After it happened it caused sleepless nights, worrying and watching security cameras fearing someone was there.
“I feared for my children playing outside in the garden and still do.”
She said it caused anxiety when her husband was away and she no longer felt comfortable in the home unless a friend or family member was with her.
source:irishtimes.com
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