An "extremely violent" burglar, who terrified the wife and children of England ace Steven Gerrard in an armed raid, has been jailed for seven years and four months.
Martin Wilson, 22, was one of three masked men who broke into Gerrard's £3 million mansion in Victoria Road, Formby, while the Liverpool skipper was playing in France.
At a half-hour hearing in Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (7 June), Judge Robert Warnock QC heard how Wilson and his accomplices smashed their way into the property, before confronting the footballer's wife, Alex Curran, 27.
The court was told that Wilson, of Stockbridge Village, Knowsley, had demanded Ms Curran hand over her valuable jewellery and the contents of a safe, or they would "take her kids".
The three-man gang, who raided the couple's home at around 9.30pm while Gerrard played in a crunch Champions League tie with Marseille, threatened to use knives if Ms Curran and the children's nanny, Lyndsey Johnston, did not co-operate.
Passing sentence for a single charge of burglary, Judge Warnock labelled the gang's behaviour "deplorable".
He added: "Particularly seriously, you threatened to abduct their children if they did not hand over their safe.
"You were both venal and extremely violent, with no regard whatsoever for the rights and dignities of a house holder."
Career criminal Wilson, who appeared in the high-security dock of the courtroom flanked by two guards, is already serving a six year sentence on charges of conspiracy to burgle.
Monday was the second time Wilson had appeared before Judge Warnock for sentencing in twelve months, he was jailed on 22 June 2009 for his involvement in a string of raids on wealthy homeowners along with five other members of a notorious burglary gang.
During a campaign of terror, which spanned more than a year, the men were found guilty of stealing more than £700,000 in luxury cars and valuables.
In many cases the raids involved savagely attacking the owners, even tying them up at gunpoint, before stealing ultra-valuable cars which included a Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Wilson showed no emotion in court, as he was told his new sentence will run concurrently alongside his existing jail term, adding a further two years behind bars.
Following the hearing, Chief Superintendent Tony Doherty said: "Today we have seen Martin Wilson, sentenced to seven years and four months imprisonment for the burglary of Steven Gerrard's home on 11 December 2007.
"This conviction and sentence is a result of extensive and thorough enquiries by our officers.
"We are committed to reducing burglaries across the force area and today's result reflects our commitment to continue to drive down burglary."
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