A member of a gang which broke into the home of former England footballer Ashley Cole and threatened to cut off his fingers has been jailed for 30 years.
Kurtis Dilks, 35, was part of four-strong team that smashed into the former Premier League defender’s house wearing masks on 21 January 2020.
Dilks was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court, the sentence includes a five-year extended licence period.
The former England footballer told police he “knew” he was going to die as the raiders tied his hands behind his back despite him holding his young daughter.
He said the “terror and confusion” on his children’s faces when a gang of men smashed into his home tied him up and threatened to cut off his fingers “will never leave me”.
Judge James Sampson praised the “courage and resilience” of Cole and his partner Sharon Canu, as well as all the other victims of the gang.
He told Kurtis Dilks: “The psychological impact on Mr Cole and Ms Canu, as with all of your victims, cannot be overstated.”
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The judge told the court the attack on the footballer’s home was “extremely terrifying” and described the gang as “intelligent, violent and chillingly ruthless men”.
Cole said he had invested hugely on security at his home in Fetcham, Surrey, to the point that it makes it “feel like a fortress”, but he said he still cannot go out to the bin without a torch and his guard dog.
