Carlo Ancelotti's teenage daughter screamed when she discovered a gang of masked men inside the former Everton manager's house.
She was home alone during the terrifying raid at the property in Blundellsands, which saw items including jewellery and a safe stolen. The gang behind the burglary and a string of more than 30 other break-ins - in which they also pinched the ashes of a beloved family pet and a fireman's MBE - were locked up at Liverpool Crown Court today, Thursday.
The court was told that a "team of highly-organised, professional burglars" targeted the now Real Madrid boss' address on February 12 last year while he was still in charge at Goodison Park. Michael Scholes, prosecuting, described how Ancelotti's young daughter "screamed" out in horror when she realised that two men had entered via a first-floor balcony at around 6.30pm on the day in question.
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A quantity of jewellery, a designer leather bag worth in the region of £2,000 and several credits were taken during the incident. The intruders then carted their loot off in a pillowcase.
Shaun Rimmer and Adam Hastings - from Netherton - led the crooks in targeting houses where firearms including shotguns were kept, hoping to steal them to sell on to the criminal underworld. They and fellow burglar Callum Martin, of Bootle, also ransacked dozens of secluded homes to steal up to tens of thousands of pounds of jewellery at a time.
Among the other break-ins described by Mr Scholes - which were committed between January and April 2021 across Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales - was one on Lydiate Lane in Chorley on February 5. On this occasion, a shotgun cabinet containing a Baretta 12 gauge shotgun was stolen.
The homeowner was not present at the time, with the burglary having been discovered by workmen who arrived to fit blinds. The firearm was never recovered.
On February 16 that year, offenders attempted to break into the Pawfect Retreat - a doggy day care centre on Moss Lane in Hightown. But they were disturbed during attempts to force a rear window and fled.
Just over a week later, a home on Massams Lane in Formby was targeted while a mum was home with her young children. Around £60,000 of goods - including Gucci and Louis Vuitton bags - were stolen from the address.
Another incident on March 4 came when the occupant's young son was home alone at the property on Plex Lane in Halsall. He texted his dad for help as the burglars stole clothing, watches and other jewellery.
On March 30, the trio forced entry to a house on Billinge End Road in Blackburn. Among the items taken were jewellery, perfume and - bizarrely - the ashes of a family pet.
Then, on March 30, retired fire officer John Wilacy had his "highly treasured" MBE medal stolen after he found three men inside his house on Hoole Lane in Nateby, Lancashire. Two safes - one containing shotguns and the other holding passports, holiday tickets, dollars, a purse and banks cards - were lifted, but the guns were subsequently recovered as the safe would not fit inside the burglars' car.
Merseyside Police's dedicated burglary unit Operation Castle launched Operation Coliseum in order to investigate a spate of 37 reported burglaries. Homes in Birkdale, Allerton, Crosby, Southport, Aughton and Neston were also targeted.
Hastings and Rimmer were described as the "main participants", having been "undoubtedly in control of the entire operation". Both were also "present for the vast majority" of the break-ins.
Rimmer admitted conspiracy to commit burglary, three counts of possession of a shotgun without a certificate and theft of a motor vehicle. The 29-year-old was jailed for eight years and nine months, to be served consecutively to an eight-year sentence imposed in Scotland earlier this year.
Hastings, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and three counts of possession of a shotgun without a certificate. He was handed 10 years and nine months.
Martin admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and three counts of possession of a shotgun without a certificate. The 33-year-old was locked up for four years and five months.
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