Gang stole £400,000 of loot from footie ace John Terry’s mansion after he posted Instagram snap showing he was away on a family skiing holiday
The haul included a £40k snakeskin handbag, £220k of posh jewellery and Harry Potter first editions worth £18k
A GANG stole £400,000 of luxury goods from John Terry’s mansion — including handbags worth £126,000.
Three axe-wielding burglars targeted the 36-year-old England legend’s Surrey pad while he was on a skiing holiday with wife Toni and their twins.
As well as Toni’s bags, the thieves took a trophy, more than £220,000 of gems, cash and signed Harry Potter first edition books worth £18,000.
Three men admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and will be sentenced on Friday.
The gang smashed up the couple’s bedroom as they tried to break into a safe using an angle grinder during the early-hours raid in Surrey last February.
The burglars were spotted on CCTV using a ladder to get into the Terrys’ master bedroom, Kingston crown court heard.
At one point they were seen wandering round the grounds of the Oxshott pad with axes in their hands.
Darren Eastaugh, 30, Joshua Sumer, 27, and Roy Head, 28, had forced their way into former Chelsea skipper Terry’s £5million home after he posted a holiday snap on Instagram, the court was told.
The 36-year-old defender, now with Aston Villa, was away with Toni, 35, and their twin boy and girl, 11.
Prosecutor Rossano Scamardella said: “The defendants were the main players in a gang of men who targeted and burgled high-value domestic properties.
"The burglaries were carefully planned and were carried out with ruthless efficiency.
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“The deliberate targeting of expensive homes guaranteed that, once access had been gained, the items found within would be sought-after luxury goods.
"The most high-profile and best example of this was the burglary of former England football captain John Terry’s home address.”
Mr Scamardella added: “This was the first burglary in this conspiracy.
“The whole family was enjoying a short break abroad, skiing.
“Mr Terry made the mistake of posting a photograph of himself and his family on the social media platform Instagram.
"Revealing as it must have done — to anyone who saw it — that their house was empty.”
The gang were nailed by cops using mobile phone records after they were seen at a nearby fuel station.
All admitted conspiracy to commit burglary.
However, none of the Terrys’ possessions were ever found in the wake of the raid on February 25.
Among them were 28 of Toni’s handbags worth a total of £126,000.
They included the £42,000 Hermes bag and a Blue Python Chanel design worth £8,250.
Some 16 Chanel bags were taken, along with three by Gucci and two by Yves Saint Laurent.
The crooks also stole £30,000 cash plus Toni’s £61,000 eternity ring, £27,000 Boodles diamond earrings plus watches and necklaces — adding up to a gems haul of £219,000.
Also swiped were a trophy and Harry Potter first edition books worth £18,000.
Meanwhile, the gang caused £19,581 damage to the family’s home — including smashing a £3,625 bespoke mirrored headboard on the Terrys’ bed and two £3,165 bedside tables.
The court heard the family’s housekeeper, who was staying in an apartment above a garage beside the gated three-storey house, was first awoken by the raiders at midnight.
He thought an animal had triggered a security light — only to be disturbed again at 2.55am by a loud banging sound from the bedroom.
Mr Scamardella said: “He noticed nothing untoward until about midnight when he noticed one of the security lights coming on and off.
“He thought it might have been caused by a fox so went to bed. In fact it was caused by the presence of these defendants.
“At approximately 2.55am, he was awoken by loud banging coming from the master bedroom. He left his bedroom and shouted out and the banging soon stopped.”
By then the burglar alarm had been triggered and cops were called.
Mr Scamardella said: “The officers gained access to the master bedroom and the scene inside that bedroom was carnage.
“Cupboard doors opened and cupboards emptied with that which wasn’t taken strewn across the floor.
“A dressing table and cupboard completely dismantled, damage to the windows and to the bed, lamps broken, carpets completely ruined.
“The loss sustained by the Terrys was substantial. One will see there is an eye-watering list which includes designer jewellery and designer handbags in particular.
"The total value of items stolen was £380,000 and the total for damage was more than £19,000. Therefore we are not very short of £400,000 either stolen or damaged items.”
Two other gang members, Oliver Hart and Kye Hardy-King — both 25 — admitted handling stolen goods. All will be sentenced today.
Ace Ross thug held
A THUG who once threatened to end England star Ross Barkley’s football career was arrested as he was about to fly out of the country.
Sam Walker, 34, was stopped at Manchester Airport last weekend.
He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit GBH over an alleged incident at a bar in Liverpool.
Three years ago, he sent menacing messages to Everton ace Barkley, 23, in a dispute over a girl.
One called him “ya little rat” and added: “Don’t act stupid or your footie career will come to an end!”
The prosecutor pointed out that not all the defendants were involved in all the gang’s burglaries, but they were each part of the conspiracy to commit them.
In all, the court heard details of seven burglaries by the mob, during which they stole items and caused damage worth £600,000.
Their final victim was multi-millionaire businessman Alfie Best, known as the Gypsy King.
Sumer and an unknown accomplice targeted his home in Windlesham, Surrey, on March 20 — stealing designer handbags, clothes and a watch valued at £149,906.