Ashley Cole 'thought he was going to die' when gang smashed into house and tied him up

dailystar.co.uk:

Arsenal, Chelsea and Derby defender Cole's personal statement was read out at Nottingham Crown Court as a judge prepared to jail one of the men involved in the raid in January 2020, during which the player thought he was going to die.

Kurtis Dilks, 35, has been jailed for 30 years, with a five-year extended licence period. Read by a prosecutor, the former full-back said in his statement: "The picture of that night remains and impacts everything.READ MORE: Ex-Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas set to join second division team"The terror and confusion on my children's face is something that will never leave me.

These images and thoughts will never, ever leave my mind and can pop up any time." He described how he has 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.

Cole's partner Sharon Canu was in court on Friday to hear her statement also read by prosecutor Michael Brady QC. She described in her document how the raid has had a "huge impact" on her life, recalling how she tried to hide in a wardrobe with her son as her husband was tied up and her daughter pleaded for comfort.Ms Canu said: "That will never leave me." She said that despite the dogs, panic alarms and fences that have been installed in their property, she still does not feel safe.