A woman accused of handling stolen goods belonging to soccer star Lucas Leiva denied the charge when she made an appearance at Liverpool Magistrates Court.
The luxury home of Brazilian midfielder Leiva was burgled while he was playing a Champions League match at Anfield against Atletico Madrid.
A quantity of valuables and electrical goods were stolen in the break-in at the property in the Woolton area of the city on the evening of 4th November.
Police investigating the crime arrested Robyn Louise Mutch, 19, from Redbrook Street, Anfield, and recovered a Sony PSP player that was among the items stolen in the raid.
Dressed in a fur waistcoat, trousers and grey Ugg boots the teenager spoke only to confirm her name and enter a not guilty plea during the 10 -minute hearing.
Mutch's solicitor Brian Jackson told the court that his client would vigourously deny that she had any knowledge of the burglary or that the item involved was stolen.
District Judge Trevor Chatelier remanded Mutch on unconditional bail to re-appear in court on 2nd January.
On that date she will appear with three other defendants who are charged with the burglary in which the footballer's Olympic bronze medal was also stolen
Among the other items taken were a collection of Brazilian football shirts with the name 'Lucas' on the back, each shirt bearing a different number.
Also stolen were a collection of Liverpool football shirts with the name 'Lucas' on the back and all with the number 21 on the back.
Reporting restrictions were not lifted at the hearing.
* Eight Liverpool players have had their homes burgled over the last three years with Robbie Keane being the most recent victim before Leiva.
Club captain and England midfielder Steven Gerrard was given extra security at his Formby home last December when four men broke in and confronted his wife, Alex Curran.
Liverpool FC 'keeper Pepe Reina was burgled while helping Liverpool secure a place in the Champions League final against Chelsea in May 2008.
Striker Dirk Kuyt's house, also in the Woolton area, was ransacked in November 2007 while the forward was on international duty with Holland.
Peter Crouch and Daniel Agger both had their homes burgled while playing at Anfield against Galatasaray in a Champions League qualifier in September 2006.
And in June 2006 Liverpool's Champions League hero Jerzy Dudek was burgled while on holiday in his native Poland.
In December 2006 James Birch, then aged 20, from Tuebrook, Liverpool, admitted burglary at the home of Jerzy Dudek in Caldy along with five other similar offences at the homes of footballers.
His victims were Peter Crouch, Daniel Agger, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Everton's Tony Hibbert and Andy Van der Meyde.
Birch was sentenced to two and a half years for the crimes in which he stole goods, including cars, with a value of more than #600,000.
Liverpool physiotherapst goes for Olympic gold
(Fri 03/02)
Liverpool to repay £9m after cruise liner row
(Fri 03/02)
Post a comment