One Southampton striker’s home was burgled by an armed gang as he played during a Premier League fixture at St Mary’s Stadium.
Danny Ings’ home in Hampshire was broken into by three raiders, who were brandishing knives and a barbecue skewer, stole items including electronic goods and a van from the player’s driveway.
Daily Echo have revealed that one of the culprits, Jack Cove, has been jailed after he admitted to being part of the aggravated burglary.
The 21-year-old was sentenced to nine years in prison after also pleading guilty to holding a knife to a man’s throat during another aggravated burglary.
Southampton Crown Court heard how gang, consisting of three men, burgled the Southampton striker’s unoccupied home on the 22nd of May last year while he was part of Saints’ 1-1 draw against Huddersfield.
When he returned to the property with and a friend around 7pm, they found it had been burgled.
Prosecutor Victoria Hill said: “The group stole goods valued at around £1,300 and a Ford Luton van was also stolen.”
Ms Hill also brought up another incident where Jack Cove and another person had kicked their way into a home in the St Denys area of Southampton on the 21st of March.
Cove threatened the homeowner whilst holding a knife to the person’s throat, while his accomplice stole £200.
Ms Hill said Cove and two others had been part of an aggravated burglary at a property in the Thornhill part of Southampton on the 17th of September.
The owners of that property were on holiday when the three broke in and took jewellery and watches.
A neighbour knew something suspicious was going on, so called the police Cove was arrested with another who was in the property, at the same time, officers found a hunting knife.
Cove pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated burglary and one count of bank card fraud, one count of criminal damage, one count of dangerous driving, relating to a crash on his motorbike, one count of driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and two counts of taking a vehicle without consent.
It was explained in mitigation that Cove suffered an unresolved childhood issue and had a drug use problem.
He previously had four convictions after getting in with a bad group of people.
Cove said he showed remorse for his behaviour, which has ended up getting him time in prison worth up to nine years in prison and is banned from driving for eight years, something he will serve when behind bars.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login