A gang locked up following a spree of car thefts were linked to a burglary at the family home of Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof. Declan McClusky, Alan McCabe, Kade McEwan and Christopher Ward were sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court this week for their part in a conspiracy to burgle homes from December 2021 to March 2022.
The court heard that one of the victims of the burglary spree was Maja Lindelof, the Swedish footballer's Instagram influencer wife. Prosecuting, Hugh McKee told the court that a burglary took place at the Lindelof home in Hale Barnes, Trafford, on January 19 last year.
Mr McKee said the burglars were 'interrupted' and left the property empty-handed, but a white Nissan Qashqai was involved in the offence. The court heard how police seized the car in Wythenshawe later that same day.
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Officers examined the vehicle and found it was the same car that had been stolen from a property in Bowden, Trafford, along with a Ford Fiesta, in the early hours of Boxing Day 2021. Fingerprints were taken from the Nissan, which had been put onto false number plates, and they were identified to McCluskey.
The burglary on the Lindelof home took place on a night United had played away from home in London. Victor's side had travelled to Brentford, where they won 3-1 in a match that kicked off at 8pm.
Maja told followers on Instagram about the ordeal at the time. She wrote: "During Victor's game this Wednesday night we had a break-in at our house in Manchester.
"I was home alone with both the kids but we managed to hide and lock ourselves in a room before they entered our house. We are okay under the circumstances, but it was obviously a very traumatic and scary moment for both me and my little kids.
"We are now in Sweden and are spending some time off with our families. Love, Maja."
A statement from Manchester United at the time said the family 'were unhurt but clearly shaken' following the 'distressing experience'. Ralf Rangnick, then-interim manager, told reporters: "I spoke with him at length on our flight back home from London and also this morning.
"We spoke for 20 or 25 minutes, he told me what actually happened, that this was a traumatic event, especially for his wife and three-year old-son. He said to me right now he needs to stay at home, he doesn't want to leave his wife and family on their own, which I can fully understand, being a father of two children myself."
The court heard McCluskey was later seen with a Mini Cooper and a Vauxhall Astra stolen from a property in Timperley, Trafford, on February 13, 2022. On the evening of March 2 last year, before the gang would go on to be rumbled by police, McCluskey was seen driving a Skoda Fabia which had been stolen from a house in Gorton three days earlier.
Mr McKee told the court: "McCluskey and McCabe, the Crown says, are part of a long-running operation to burgle houses and steal cars. Jewellery was taken on at least two occasions that we know of."
Judge Matthew Corbett-Jones sentenced McClusky, 20, of Boothfield Road, Wythenshawe, to three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.
McCabe, 19, of Boothfield Road, Wythenshawe, was jailed for three years and 11 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. McEwan, 20, of Moorcroft Road, Manchester, was jailed for one year and ten months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.
Ward, 20, of Ninfield Road, Wythenshawe, was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis.
Detective Constable Chris Bromley, from GMP Serious Organised Crime Group, said: "This group were prolific thieves, and these were really intrusive crimes where they would often break into people’s homes and steal the cars from their drives, leaving people unable to get to work or take their children to school."
Maja Lindelof has been approached for comment.
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