More stories

  • in

    England boss Gareth Southgate makes £2.5million in one YEAR with lucrative side hustle

    ENGLAND gaffer Gareth Southgate has also shown great management off the pitch — with his property company adding £2.5million of assets in a year.His firm MAS Investment Holdings deals in the “buying and selling of real estate”.
    Shrewd England manager Gareth Southgate has added to his property portfolio this year
    Its holdings grew from £1.2million to £3.7million in the year ending April 30, accounts filed yesterday reveal.
    Gareth, 53, now owns 11 buy-to-let properties via the firm, which he runs alongside wife Alison.
    The company snapped up a £305,000 apartment in June — one of four flats it owns in Birmingham.
    Ex-England player Gareth — who earns £3million a year as the Three Lions’ boss — owns half of the firm, Alison has a ten per cent stake and their two grown-up children each have a 20 per cent stake.
    READ MORE GARETH SOUTHGATE
    A source said: “Gareth is very astute. He is a meticulous planner and has a keen eye for business.”
    The firm returned a profit of £65,962 in its property dealings in the past year.
    Southgate also has an image rights firm, FHS Promotions.
    He has managed England at two World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 2018 and quarter-finals in 2022.
    Most read in Football
    Southgate’s England also made the Euro 2020 final, losing to Italy at Wembley on penalties.
    His contract with the FA runs until the end of 2024. More

  • in

    I was West Ham captain & had a Ferrari on the drive… now I live in rented flat and almost went to jail over bankruptcy

    A FORMER West Ham captain who once had a Ferrari on his drive now lives in a rented flat – and almost went to jail over his bankruptcy.Lucas Neill used to earn £40,000 a week as the Hammers’ skipper between 2007 and 2009.
    Lucas Neill captained West Ham from 2007 and 2009Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    The Aussie in action for the Irons in 2008Credit: Getty
    Neill played for Australia at the World CupCredit: AFP
    The Australian defender starred for the Socceroos at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
    At the height of his success he splashed out on a Ferrari and luxury holidays in the Maldives.
    But last week Neill appeared at Preston Crown Court charged with failing to declare money he never knew he had.
    The trial came after seven years of bankruptcy, with Neill facing three years in prison if convicted.
    Read More Football
    Neill has opened up about his financial ruin after a jury acquitted him in just 26 minutes.
    He told The Times: “Behind my chair in the dock were stairs going to the cells.
    “I’ve won my freedom, but I feel like I’ve lost in life.
    “I feel like I didn’t protect my family. And that hurts. I let my family down.”
    Most read in Football
    Neill was accused of hiding more than £2million from his creditors as his money problems spiralled out of control.
    The star ploughed huge sums into a scheme which he thought would see him get big tax breaks in return for investing in British films.
    But HMRC ordered him to pay back £400,000 after probing the dodgy scheme – which had been touted to footballers by financial advisers.
    Neill was forced to sell over seven properties, losing money on each one.
    He then defaulted on a NatWest loan he had taken out to pay for a barn near Newcastle, which was held in an offshore fund.
    Neill was left owing the bank £737,000 – and was declared bankrupt in 2016.
    He said: “People couldn’t believe it, but I had nothing left. That was my rock bottom.
    “After 20 years of a football career and all this hard work, I’ve got nothing to show for it.”
    Neill forgot to mention 144 acres of land he had bought around the barn when listing his assets for repossession.
    The Insolvency Service probed Neill for seven years, leaving him unable to own a house or even buy a mobile phone contract.
    One morning his kids answered the door to bailiffs demanding a £400 council tax bill.
    But Neill has now been found not guilty of hiding the offshore money.
    He is now coaching women and girls at a football club while working for a tech firm.
    His lawyer Joseph Kotrie Monson said: “Now it’s time for him to enjoy his restored reputation and get back into the world of sport and broadcasting.” More

  • in

    Sir Alex Ferguson’s £3.5M mansion with games room, country views & carpets unique to Man Utd legend revealed in pictures

    SIR Alex Ferguson has put his £3.5m home up for sale following the death of his wife Cathy.The legend’s five-bedroom, 7,000 square foot property in Wilmslow,Cheshire comes complete with a stylish open plan kitchen and games room.
    Sie Alex Ferguson’s luxurious 7.000 square foot property in Wilmslow, CheshireCredit: Andy Kelvin
    The eye-catching home has a chandelier dangling in the hallwayCredit: LY Property, Cheshire
    Photos of the property also reveal a dazzling hallway chandelier, en-suite bathrooms and perfectly manicured lawns.
    The former Manchester United gaffer likely left off steam in his charming game room – decorated with art work, oak bookcases and a snooker table.
    The property also has a unique ‘Ferguson clan’ tartan carpet adorned on the staircase.
    Estate agents say: “This impressive, deceptively spacious detached is…positioned within a very private, gated and secure plot.
    read more football news
    “It boasts approximately 7,000 sq ft.”
    Sir Alex decided to sell the property following the death of his wife, the Mirror reported.
    Lady Cathy Ferguson passed away in October aged 84, and is survived by her husband, their three sons, two sisters, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
    He was among the mourners at Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral earlier this month. Sir Alex has said his wife, who he met in 1964, was a “bedrock” in his life.
    Most read in Football
    Fergie’s time living at the luxurious gaff wasn’t without its share of controversy.
    In 2020, Sir Alex lost a planning battle after he objected strongly to next door’s application to demolish a two-storey house and build a three-storey mansion.
    Fergie’s lawyers sent a five-page opposition letter to planners.
    He claimed his privacy would be affected by removal of trees which would also impact the character of the area.
    He said the removal of trees was “likely to have a significant impact on the character of the area and the existing privacy standards afforded”.
    But planners decided to allow the scheme to ahead.
    Sir Alex will sell the property following the death of his wife CathyCredit: Reuters
    The legend’s games roomCredit: LY Property, Cheshire
    Sir Alex’s ensuite bedroomCredit: LY Property, Cheshire
    The ‘Ferguson clan’ tartan carpet staircaseCredit: LY Property, Cheshire
    The property boasts a plush bathroomCredit: LY Property, Cheshire
    The former Manchester United manager has decided to sell the propertyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

  • in

    Inside Benjamin Mendy’s £5m mansion as he is forced to slash price as it languishes on the market

    BENJAMIN Mendy has slashed a whopping £750,000 off the asking price of his £5million mansion as he battles bankruptcy following his rape trial. The former Manchester City footballer, 29, must sell the sprawling Cheshire property to avoid financial ruin. 
    Benjamin Mendy’s mansion has now been put up for saleCredit: Savills
    The ex-City defender now plays for Lorient in FranceCredit: Getty
    As he chases up to £10m of back pay from his old club and while rebuilding his career at French Ligue 1 club Lorient, Mendy has now reduced the asking price to £4.25million.
    It comes as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is seeking a bankruptcy order against the footballer over a nearly £800,000 tax debt. 
    The house is described by estate agents as “one of the finest contemporary homes in Cheshire”. 
    The 11,000sq-ft residence is set in over 1.75 acres of grounds and boasts six bedroom suites, an open plan living area, games room, home cinema, swimming pool, steam room, gym and spa. 
    Read More in Football
    It was bought by Mendy from cricketing legend Andrew Flintoff in 2018 for £4.8million. 
    Flintoff, who never lived at the house, bought it for £1.8million in 2008 and spent two years rebuilding the property – before renting it out. 
    His tenants included former footballer Peter Crouch and wife Abbey Clancy. 
    The former Man City star was already a millionaire when he joined from Monaco in 2017 on a six-year contract.
    Most read in Football
    His deal guaranteed him a basic £100,000-a-week salary and up to £170,000 with bonuses.
    But instead of pocketing £31.2million, he ended up fighting bankruptcy after his 2020 arrest for rape.
    He was cleared of raping a woman following a retrial in July.
    Jurors unanimously cleared him of both charges after three hours of deliberation.
    But despite going free, he was forced to close his image rights company after being chased for unpaid tax.
    The footballer took a huge financial hit after being charged in 2021, with City stopping his salary the following month.
    The sprawling property boasts a luxurious interiorCredit: Savills
    Peter Crouch was a former tenant at the mansionCredit: Savills
    The property is worth millionsCredit: Savills
    There is even a home cinema at the swanky padCredit: Savills More

  • in

    We live in the shadow of Stamford Bridge… we’re being made homeless in £80m Chelsea FC deal – we’re disgusted

    VETERANS have slammed the sale of their homes to Chelsea FC’s home Stamford Bridge.Those living in Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions in Fulham, London, have said they’ll refuse to leave when given their marching orders.

    Veterans live in the shadow of Stamford BridgeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Those living in Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions in Fulham, London, previously said they’d refuse to leave if given their marching ordersCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    One of the youngest veterans, former army man Matthew Bignell, 36, told Sun Online he would refuse to leaveCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Now, the sale of their homes to the football club has been confirmed.
    The Premier League giants have purchased the majority of a 1.2 acre site next to Stamford Bridge from the Stoll Foundation.
    One of the youngest veterans, former army man Matthew Bignell, 36, told Sun Online he was “deeply disappointed” by the move.
    He added: “It’s a huge shame. There’s too much emphasis on the money they’ll gain and not enough on the homes they’re losing.
    Read More on Chelsea fc
    “They’ve made dozens of veterans homeless. It’s not good enough.”
    He previously told how veterans would refuse to leave their homes after the sale.
    He added: “We have to look into what we can do to fight back against this decision. We’re not sure making that many veterans homeless in the short term will really help in the long-term.”
    The military pensioners are furious over a deal that has seen Chelsea purchase the 1.2-acre area of land for £80m.
    Most read in Football
    It comes amid its £2billion planned expansion.
    But it means the 100 veterans and war widows living inside the 1915 block will have to be rehoused – something many are fighting.
    Veteran Sean Kennedy, 51, has lived in his flat since 2013.
    He added: “It’s disappointing but not unexpected this has happened. The charity’s quality of care has never been very strong.
    “Now I have to find somewhere else to live and I’m overwhelmed. I’m too stressed to fight back, there’s nothing I can do.
    “It’s not surprising, we live next to Chelsea FC. They have the power and the money to do this.”
    Most of the tenants are over the age of 60, with some claiming they won’t be able to physically manage moving out.
    Alan Parmenter, 67, who served in the army between 1971 and 2004, is “absolutely disgusted” by the plans.
    He previously said: “We’ve done nothing wrong. There’s a lady across the way who is 94. It’ll kill them.
    “I can’t physically move out. The lift doesn’t work. I’m not going to be able to move anything.”
    He added that he just wants “a peaceful life” and is too old to move.
    Colin Tiso, 57, suffers such severe PTSD from his time fighting in the first Gulf War he can’t leave his one-bed flat.
    He added: ” Because of my PTSD I struggle to leave my flat and I’m getting treatment for that. My anxiety is overwhelming. Whenever I get the newsletters with information about the plans I completely shut down. For me as an army veteran I’m scared. 
    “Leaving the flat terrifies me. If I can’t leave the flat then moving is going to be traumatic.”
    Another tenant, Neil Ingram, 62, said it felt “like a tsunami coming our way”.
    He added that the £7,800 the tenants will get in statutory home loss payment is “not a lot of money”.
    He added: “I’m concerned. It feels like a tsunami coming our way. It’s not a lot of money but some people are happy with that.”
    Mark McFadden, who spent 17 years in the army, said residents “don’t know when we’re leaving” and “don’t know where to go”.
    The Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation, set up to support veterans returning from the First World War, provides ex-service men and women, and their spouses, with a home.
    The Fulham mansions is the original site Sir Oswald, a successful theatre magnate, donated to house veterans in 1916.
    Since then the charity has expanded to sites in Acton, Hounslow, Chiswick and Aldershot, Surrey.
    The charity, which listed its “comprehensive income” at £597,000 in 2022, now claims it doesn’t have enough funds to refurbish the Fulham site “to necessary Government housing standards”.
    It would cost “a minimum of £10million, funds the charity simply does not currently have”, according to consultation documentation.
    It added: “The overall thermal efficiency and insulation of properties in Fulham is often very poor, many tenants complain of their homes being cold and say they are unable to afford their heating bills.”
    Meanwhile, Will Campbell-Wroe, the charity’s CEO, is paid between £80,000 and £90,000, according to its latest accounts.
    Three other members of staff at the charity earn between £60,000 and £70,000.
    The club has promised not to take possession of it until 2025 at the earliest.
    Stoll Chief Executive, Will Campbell-Wroe, says: “The veterans are the heart of this organisation and we continue, as we have always done, to act in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries. The Chelsea FC ownership group’s offer enables us to limit uncertainty for residents and offer support over a longer period of time.
    “The site at Fulham is just not fit for purpose for the long term and while this is a difficult time for our residents, it is something we must do, to enable us to support veterans now and in the future.
    “We are enhancing our robust support programme for our residents during this process and our commitment to them will continue to be at the forefront of all we do at Stoll.” 
    Residents will not have to leave their homes straight away; the offer includes a leaseback period, meaning that the land would be temporarily given back to Stoll after completion of the sale, according to the charity.
    This will allow the charity to support residents to move to alternative, suitable accommodation, it said.
    Stoll’s Board of Trustees expects completion to take place in early 2024. 
    The Sun revealed previously that the Blues have committed to a massive redevelopment of their current home that ended fears they would relocate to a new stadium.
    American owner Boehly, who bought the Premier League outfit last year for £4.25billion, made promises to the stadium freeholder to expand the ground rather than move the club to a new location.
    Now Chelsea want to build a new 60,000-capacity ground to keep up with their rivals commercially with the new owners hoping for a staged rebuild of the Bridge, with the stands replaced and upgraded one by one.
    Read More on The Sun
    Chelsea FC refused to comment when approached by Sun Online.
    Sean Kennedy, 51, moved into the block of flats in 2013. He’s a Royal Air Force veteran after three years of service in the 1990sCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Will Campbell-Wroe, the charity’s CEO, is paid between £80,000 and £90,000, according to its latest accountsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

  • in

    Inside luxury enclave where Mason Greenwood could live in eight-bedroom mansion in Spain’s ‘Beverly Hills’

    MASON Greenwood could be set to move into a sprawling mansion in an exclusive neighbourhood that was once home to superstars like David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane. On Friday the striker sealed a season-long loan deal to LaLiga side Getafe in an attempt to kick start his career.
    Mason Greenwood signs for Getafe CF Mason Greenwood to Getafe, deal now sealed and signedCredit: @GetafeCFen / Twitter
    The exclusive neighbourhood of LaFinca is just a 20-minute drive from Getafe
    The entrance to the gated communityCredit: PROMORA
    Manchester United will contribute around £8,000 per month toward the villaCredit: PROMORA/YOUTUBE
    Big stars such as Beckham and Zidane used to live in the area
    Manchester United confirmed last month Greenwood would not play for the club again after a six-month internal investigation into rape and assault charges that were dropped.
    The Sun exclusively revealed that Man United had put together a care package worth £8,000 per month which will pay for villa near his new club’s training ground.

    Now The Sun can reveal that Greenwood could be set to move into an exclusive enclave on the outskirts of Madrid that was once home to superstars such as Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane and Gareth Bale.
    Fernando Torres and Sergio Ramos are among the current residents in LaFinca, where properties sell for around €15million and can cost up to €20,000 per month to rent.
    It is known as one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in Spain, offering top notch security and most importantly, privacy.
    The enclave is described as Spain’s ‘Beverly Hills’ and is home to some of the country’s wealthiest people with sprawling mansions, luxury golf courses and shopping malls.
    A private security firm has agents patrolling its tree-lined streets, while guards are stationed at the entrance 24/7.
    It has three perimeter fences to keep out unwelcome visitors and any potential burglars, while scores of security cameras have every corner covered.
    Most read in Football
    It is deemed so safe that many of the homeowners reportedly don’t even bother installing an alarm system in the upmarket area of Pozuelo de Alarcon.
    Bale paid around £10,000-per-month in rent to stay in the Pozuelo de Alarcón part of La Finca, in an amazing 1,500 square metre property that is built on two-storeys.
    It boasts four bedrooms, an indoor pool, gym, two utility rooms, several terraces and porches, as well as a six-car garage.
    Former Man United ace Ronaldo bought a home there for around €5million in 2010 before carrying out extensive renovation works.
    It now counts seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fully-equipped gym, garage and more.
    The home was last year shown on the Netflix reality show ‘Soy Georgina’, which followed the daily life of his partner Georgina Rodriguez.
    LaFinca is one of two luxury neighbourhoods that Greenwood would likely move to, the other being La Moraleja, just a further 20 minutes’ drive north-east.
    They have endured a fierce rivalry when it comes to footballers in recent years.
    A spokeswoman from estate agency Promora, which sells properties in both areas, told the Sun: “I cannot say where Greenwood will be living but it will most likely be between La Finca or La Morajela.
    “Either are like a footballer’s paradise because they are very green areas with wide avenues and with great 24-hour security.
    “They have everything they need with their own shops, supermarkets and cinemas etc, meaning they don’t ever have to leave.
    In 2016, French player Raphael Varane had his home in La Moraleja raided.
    The spokesman added: “It really depends on their lifestyle. If they have children for example, La Moraleja can be a preferred option because there are many top quality international colleges nearby.”
    MAD FOR IT
    One mansion in the Moraleja neighbourhood of Alcobendas even has a nuclear bunker.
    The H-shaped estate, which David Beckham visited during his stint at Real Madrid, has an 80 square metre bunker that is ‘totally sealed’ off, complete with a bedroom, bathroom, food supplies and a radio communication system, according to director of Promora Gonzalo Lopez-van Dam.
    While La Moraleja has a private security firm, some of its streets are still accessible to the public, increasing the risk of being photographed or robbed.
    Nevertheless, it still attracts huge stars, including Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, who lives in a €12million villa with his wife and three children.
    It now appears that Greenwood is determined to seize the chance to turn his career around in Spain.
    A source said: “He’s going on loan but remains a United player.“It means the club has an ongoing duty of care to him and they’ve pledged to help him make a success of his move to Spain.
    “The villa is big enough for friends and family to visit. They will get the opportunity to travel to see him as much as they can.
    “It’s important he has a solid support network around him. The last thing they want is Mason isolated.”
    It is understood United will pay more than half of his £75,000-a-week wages while he is in Spain.
    Another source said Greenwood is raring to go. They added: “He’s happy he’s got himself a club in LaLiga and can finally begin to put the last two years behind him.
    Read More on The Sun
    “He wants to concentrate on football and becoming the best version of himself — on and off the field. He’s looking forward to playing against Barcelona and Real Madrid.
    “He’s going to show everyone that he’s changed and that he’s matured. He knows it’ll be a long road but it starts here.”
    A view of the renowned Pozuelo de AlarconCredit: Wikipedia
    A communal garden in the gated suburb popular with footballers
    La Moraleja is another exclusive enclave in the areaCredit: supplied
    Private security guards patrol the streetsCredit: Handout More

  • in

    Inside Harry Redknapp’s plans for new incredible seaside villa after tearing down his £7million home

    FOOTBALL legend Harry Redknapp is set to build a new incredible seaside villa after tearing down his £7million home.The plans for his new home have already caused a stir with neighbours – and he is yet to be given planning permission.
    Harry and Sandra Redknapp are battling for new home improvements approval
    The ex-Spurs manager wants to redevelop his newly-bought Sandbanks property. Pictured left, as it is now
    Harry Redknapp’s new home plansCredit: boppa.poole.gov.uk
    His application for changes has led to wranglings with council planners. Pictured, an artists impression of what the new home would look like
    Redknapp’s old waterfront home on the Millionaire’s Row has already been knocked down to make way for the new villa.
    But the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is at war with his local council as he hopes to transform the Italianate mansion in Sandbanks, Dorset.
    Plans for the home show it echoes properties around Lake Como in Italy. 
    The colossal house will have four balconies, a grand entrance hall, an open-plan living/kitchen/dining room, two receptions, a study and five ensuite bedrooms.
    There will also be a new boat house and a jetty with access to Poole Harbour.
    But Planning chiefs have reportedly criticised an application for the six-bedroom detached house.
    They say proposals for the property overlooking Poole Harbour and promising “a traditional Italianate architectural style” are “overwhelming” and “disjointed”.
    Documents suggest Redknapp has been offering compromises, such as removing bedroom windows, lowering the roof and redesigning the front door and boat house.
    Most read in Football
    Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said the preferred material for windows and doors should be timber.
    But Redknapp’s architects Anders Roberts Cheer hit back to say this would be “inappropriate in this exposed location”.
    A design and access statement for the new property calls it “sensitively designed” and “a carefully balanced and attractive infill development which respects the character of the area”.
    Meanwhile, neighbours have already began to complain about the plans.
    One local, Alison Wheeler said: “The proposed building is overpowering. I fear it would feel oppressive. The quiet enjoyment of our garden would be seriously impacted by the windows in the new south-west wing. 
    “The addition of several ground and first-floor windows… would have a major impact on our privacy.
    “It would create shadow in the morning and significantly reduce the light on the south-eastern aspect of our house.”
    Another resident Nicola Bailey added: “The proposed development… does not seem to respect the ‘spacing between plots’.”
    Chris Shipperley, of ARC Architects, acting for the Redknapps, said the couple had already revised the plans to appease locals.
    Sandbanks is said to be Britain’s most expensive seaside town More

  • in

    Premier League star Raul Jimenez’s home broken into while his family were inside with £130k Audi & Range Rover stolen

    A PREMIER LEAGUE star’s home was broken into while his family were inside with his Audi Q8 and Range Rover stolen.”Professional criminal” Patrick Rafferty and his fellow thieves sneaked into Raul Jimenez’s Tettenhall home while he was there with his young children.
    Thieves sneaked into Raul Jimenez’s Tettenhall home while he was there with his familyCredit: Instagram
    The ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers star was targeted as part of a two-month crime spreeCredit: Getty
    The 35-year-old targeted Wolverhampton Wanderers all-time top Premier League goal scorer as part of his two-month crime spree which saw him swipe cars worth a total of almost £250,000.
    Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Rafferty was part of a gang of crooks who often disguised themselves before creeping into homes during the early hours of the morning.
    Victims were often asleep when the thieves entered their Wolverhampton and Willenhall homes in order to pinch keys and flee with cars parked on driveways.
    The gang forced entry into the Mexican striker’s home in July last year, stealing two of his cars which were worth a total of £130,000.
    Read more Sport News
    Other items snatched from the 32-year-old’s home included PlayStation controllers, watches and computers, prosecutor Jonathan Barker said.
    It comes after Jimenez penned a two-year deal with Fulham in July after falling out of favour at Wolves.
    During their crimewave, dad-of-one Rafferty and others entered a property in Tettenhall Wood.
    A Mini Countryman worth £5,800 was stolen while a family with children slept.
    Most read in Football
    The victims noticed the cars had been taken when they woke up later that morning.
    Two days later, burglars broke a lock and forced their way into a home in Tettenhall.
    A dad who had been asleep was suddenly woken up by a noise before realising the keys to his Porsche and Mercedes were being taken.
    He courageously attempted to disturb the thieves, which caused a criminal attempting to flee in the Mercedes to lose control and hurtle into a neighbour’s house.
    The thieves then fled the scene on foot. A total of £5,500-worth of damage was caused to the neighbour’s home.
    Gang members targeted a further property that same day while a family with children were inside their home in Willenhall.
    A lock was broken before the thieves snatched keys to a Ford Fiesta worth £4,000 and an £18,000 Seat Leon.
    The next day, the gang broke a lock to get inside a home in Oxley but left empty-handed when they were disturbed.
    A victim living at a property in Wednesfield was woken up when his Ring doorbell made a noise that same day.
    The gang forced entry into Jimenez’ home in July last yearCredit: Instagram
    They stole two of his cars which were worth a total of £130,000Credit: Rex
    He confronted the masked burglars and shouted at them before they said they wanted his car and walked off with nothing.
    Thieves went on to burgle a home in Tettenhall after breaking a lock on a door.
    A family with children were inside when a BMW X3, Peugeot 208 and a Citreon DS3 were swiped from their home.
    Apple AirPods also taken were traced by police, linking accomplice Simon Brookes to the burglary.
    The burglars then forced their way through a dining room window to get into another home, where two Mercedes worth a total of £23,000 were stolen.
    An attempted burglary took place in Willenhall but masked men ran off after the female victim shouted at them.
    A Toyota Avensis worth £1,500 was also taken from a property in Bilston.
    The court heard how Rafferty – of no fixed abode – has 23 convictions for 58 offences including other burglaries and conspiracy to steal.
    Rafferty and Brookes admitted conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to steal between July 18 and September 16 last year.
    Third-strike burglar Rafferty confirmed he was involved in all 10 incidents.
    Amrisha Parathalingam, defending Rafferty, said he was using drugs at the time of his offending.
    Brookes, 31, pleaded on a basis and claimed he was only involved in the burglary in Tettenhall.
    Simon Worlock, defending Brookes, said the dad-of-four – of Wolverhampton – was just the driver of one of the cars which was stolen and is “not proud of what he has done”.
    Read More on The Sun
    Sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers KC said: “You were both part of a criminal gang which was focused on stealing valuable cars by identifying them on driveways and entering the dwelling house in the early hours of the morning, drilling out the locks, wearing disguises.”
    Rafferty was jailed for 84 months, while Brookes was locked up for 54 months on August 21.
    Other items snatched from the 32-year-old’s home included PlayStation controllersCredit: Instagram More