Burglars of the rich and famous: The moment gang broke into mansion in robbery spree that targeted Raheem Sterling, Jay Kay and their luxury watches

• e-mail

This is the moment a member of a 'sophisticated' burglary gang from Liverpool who targeted celebrities including England football star Raheem Sterling attempts to break into a house as part of a £600,000 burglary spree.

CCTV shows one of the trio using a metal ladder to climb onto the roof of a property in Lymm, Warrington.

It was one of 14 homes targeted by the gang, who today have been jailed for a total of 22 years.

The trio, made up of Thomas Mee, 42, Vincent Ball, 52, and John Barlow, 58, all from Liverpool, targeted homes of high-profile businessmen and women, footballers and celebrities, including Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay's house in Buckinghamshire, as part of their spree.

The homes of Bury FC chairman Steve Dale and Mansfield Town FC owner John Radford were also raided by the gang, who typically attempted to steal jewellery, handbags and watches. 

The organised crime gang (all three pictured) picked out the homes of high-profile businessmen and women, footballers and celebrities, including Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay's house in Buckinghamshire, as part of their spree

Today Thomas Mee (left), 42, Vincent Ball (centre), 52, and John Barlow (right), 58, all from Liverpool, were sentenced at Chester Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to burgle

The homes of Bury FC chairman Steve Dale and Mansfield Town FC owner John Radford were also targeted by the gang, who typically attempted to steal jewellery, handbags and watches during their raids. Pictured: The gang targeting a house in Cheshire

Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay's house in Buckinghamshire, as part of their spree. Pictured: The gang on top of a roof during one of their burglaries

In total, the trio made off with £600,000 worth of goods from at least 14 raids.

Today they were sentenced at Chester Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to burgle.

Mee, of HMP Altcourse, who also admitted handling stolen goods, was jailed for eight years and seven months.

Getaway driver Ball, of Ranworth Place, Liverpool, was sentenced to six years and nine months, while Barlow, of no fixed address, was jailed for seven years and six months.

A spokesman from Cheshire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: 'Ball, Barlow and Mee are all members of a sophisticated organised crime gang responsible for at least 14 burglaries across England.

'They showed an extreme level of forensic and digital awareness when committing the offences, demonstrating their determination to obtain hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of other people's property and family heirlooms.

'A significant level of planning and preparation went into each burglary, with the trio travelling hundreds of miles to commit the offences and specifically targeting the homes of high-profile businessmen and women, footballers and celebrities.

'In these 14 incidents alone they caused damage and stole property to a total value of more than £600,000.'

The court heard that the defendants attempted to burgle former Liverpool star, now a Man City forward, Raheem Sterling's home in Goostrey, Cheshire, on November 4, 2018

Ten days later, on November 14, 2018, the three men checked into a hotel in Buckinghamshire. Later singer Jay Kay's £4.5million home was targeted

The court heard that the Jamiroquai star's housekeeper noticed an upstairs window was open and found a camera had been stolen

The court heard that the defendants attempted to burgle former Liverpool star, now a Man City forward, Raheem Sterling's home in Goostrey, Cheshire, on November 4, 2018.

But the gang were scared away when the alarm system was activated and left empty-handed.

Ten days later, on November 14, 2018, the three men checked into a hotel in Buckinghamshire. Later, singer Jay Kay's £4.5million home was targeted.

The court heard that the Jamiroquai star's housekeeper noticed an upstairs window was open and found a camera had been stolen.

Jewellery, watches and handbags were taken from 14 properties across Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire between November 2018 and October 2019, the court heard.

Photos of some of the handbags were found on Mee's phone. 

On October 5 last year, the burglars were disturbed while in the Prestbury home of Mr Dale.

Watches worth between £300,000 and £500,000 were dropped by the intruders as Mr Dale's son gave chase. The trio left the property with only a £10 note.

Jewellery, watches and handbags were taken from 14 properties across Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire between November 2018 and October 2019, the court heard

Photos of some of the handbags were found on Mee's phone. He was later charged with handling stolen goods

They were later arrested and items including balaclavas, binoculars, crowbars and cloned number plates were found in a car used by the men.

The force spokesman added: 'The impact of their crime spree should not be under-estimated.

'To know that criminals have been in your home - the place you should be able to feel most safe - rifled through your property and stole your personal possessions is sickening.

'While the majority of these incidents occurred when the victims were out, some burglaries took place while they were at home.

'To be subjected to such an ordeal must be absolutely terrifying and something that nobody should have to experience.

'I hope that these convictions provide some comfort and reassurance to the victims and allows them to move forward with their lives.'