Chelsea Playmaker Raheem Sterling got robbed

 An Albanian family of thieves used a ladder to break into Raheem Sterling's home and steal Rolex watches and other designer items worth more than £300,000, a judge has been told.

The gang targeted the homes of wealthy footballers across Surrey, Essex, Kent and Hertfordshire, one of which belonged to the Chelsea player. 

They entered Sterling's home while he was abroad playing for England in the Qatar World Cup via the rear garden and used a ladder to climb into the player's bedroom where they stole 10 of his luxury Rolex watches. 

The former Liverpool and Manchester City winger was forced to rush home and missed a crucial match in the tournament.

Judge Catherine Hartley, sitting at Guildford Crown Court, is presiding over a trial of issue for the only remaining defendant, Emiliano Krosi, 24, who has admitted being involved in 15 high value burglaries but denies being involved in all 33 offences of which he is accused.

Judge Hartley heard that the others accused of the organised burglary spree - including Krosi's father and cousin - had fled the UK, leaving their relative to face the music. 

The judge will decide on whether Krosi, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, was involved in the burglaries he denies before sentencing him.

Prosecutor Richard Bendall said: 'One of the victims, Raheem Sterling MBE, lists 10 very valuable Rolex watches that were stolen from his partner's wardrobe and comments that he also has a number of fake watches that he also has in the same wardrobe.

'However these burglars knew what they wanted and took the valuable ones. Even in the hurried circumstances of a burglary, these burglars knew exactly what they were up to.

'Although the defendant has pleaded guilty, he's pleaded on a basis that the Crown has identified 33 properties that were broken into that can be linked to this gang.

'He admits being part of the gang but says he was only involved in 15 of the break-ins.

The court heard that the first burglary was carried out on November 12, 2022 in Oxshott, Surrey. The last took place on March 15 at Barnes Hall Manor, Hertfordshire, last year.

Mr Bendall told the court: 'These were all large, high-value detached properties situated in affluent areas and often on private gated roads usually with large extended rear gardens that quite often backed onto open land.

'The method of the burglars was that of cross-country then rear-garden access. Then the use of ladders or garden furniture in order to get up to the first floor and into the property.

'They would then conduct a rapid untidy search. The searches were usually restricted to the bedrooms and often just the main bedrooms where the most valuable items were expected to be.

'The burglars were pretty selective - going for cash, jewellery and designer items that could easily be resold at a significant profit.' 

The judge heard that six cars, including a red Mercedes, were involved in the burglaries - all registered under false names or fictional company names.

Gerrard Kalaja, Henri Osmani and Alfred Isufi - who were also implicated in the burglaries - have likely left the country, the court heard.

DNA evidence of Kalaja - Krosi's cousin - and Isufi, his father, were found at some of the burgled properties - blood evidence.

The court heard that Krosi and the three other suspects were arrested after a burglary at a house on Blackhall Lane, Kent, on January 27 last year.

The suspects, who were tracked by police to a property at Roman Mews, Harlow, Essex, had an 'Aladdin's cave' of stolen goods at the property, the judge heard.

The court was told there were two amounts of cash totalling almost £6,000, 'loads' of jewellery and designer goods, a complete burglary kit and a black coat which still had bits of glass embedded in it.

Mr Bendall said: 'Two items that did prove significant were two pairs of sunglasses because (the victim) was able to recognise them partly by their designs but also by the little cloths in their cases.'

Krosi and the other suspects were released on police bail so that they could be interviewed about matters in Surrey. However, they have effectively disappeared, the court heard.

Krosi was eventually arrested on August 16 last year whilst driving a black Range Rover. Messages on Krosi's iPhone showed him discussing selling Rolexes and Cartier watches to a fellow Albanian on November 30, 2022.

Mr Bendall said Krosi had been 'cherry-picking' which burglaries to admit - those that have 'no conceivable room to manoeuvre.'

Krosi is charged with conspiring to commit a burglary dwelling with intent to steal. The hearing continues.