Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender, Ashley Cole, has received justice after the robber who led a four-man gang to rob his house was convicted on Friday, July 8, 2022.
In January 2020, a robber identified as Kurtis Dilks led a team of four robbers (including himself) to smash the entrance of Ashley Cole’s house to rob the ex-footballer of some of his luxurious belongings.
According to Ashley Cole’s testimony, Kurtis Dilks and his gang threatened to cut off his fingers if he didn’t give them what they wanted on time.
They tied Ashley Cole’s hands to his back with a cable even though he was holding on to his daughter, Grace Cole, who was over one year old then.
Grace who was born on February 26, 2018, is Ashley Cole’s second child with his partner Sharon Canu. Before her birth, the two partners have welcomed a son, Jaxon Cole on February 28, 2016.
They were all at the ex-footballer’s mansion when Kurtis Dilks led his gang to rob the house in January 2020. During the trial, Dilks was described as a “dominant and dangerous” robber.
While the former England international claimed that he thought he would die in the hands of the masked armed robbers.
The police were able to identify Kurtis Dilks as the robber behind the operation because of his fingerprints on the cable which was used to tie the ex-footballer’s hands during the operation which took place in Fetcham, Surrey.
Since Dilks’ DNA was the only one recovered from the scene of the robbery, Nottingham Crown Court ruled that only Dilks was responsible for the operation even though Ashley Cole testified that the robbers were four in total.
Dilks, 35-year-old, and his gang successfully stole Watches, mobile phones, cash, a Gucci bag, headphones, and a BMW smart key from Ashely Cole but a knife and Dilks’ fingerprints on the cable and a knife were found at the scene of the operation. The exhibits helped the police to apprehend Dilks.
Dilks and his gang are said to be the ones that stole the £3.5million Tiara worn at the coronation of Edward VII.
A statement Ashley Cole shared with the police read: “I was on my knees, waiting to either be killed… I’ll never see my kids again…” They however left without killing anyone.
During the trial, a prosecutor told the Jury that: “The next thing Ms. Canu (his partner) knew was when one of the robbers opened the wardrobe door and took the phone from her while she was talking to the police.
“Ms. Canu followed the intruder and was directed wordlessly by the man who had taken her phone to the bedroom where Mr. Cole was. She then saw Mr. Cole on his knees with his hands tied behind his back.”
After 10 weeks of trial, Dilks was convicted alongside five others for their roles in a string of robberies from October 2018 to January 2020.
What next about the attack on the mansion of Ashley Cole
Though Kurtis Dilks has been convicted for robbing Ashley Cole’s mansion, the police will continue to investigate the case until the other three robbers are identified and arrested.
Dilks, who is from Whitegate Vale, Clifton, Nottingham, is expected to appear before the Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced. That is scheduled to take place on July 15, 2022.
Ashley Cole, 41-year-old, is currently an English first-team coach at Everton. He has been serving as an assistant coach to manager Frank Lampard at the Merseyside club since February 3, 2022.
Kurtis Dilks (right), 35, has been convicted at Nottingham Crown Court of being part of a four-strong gang who smashed into the home of Ashley Cole and threatened to cut his fingers off #CapitalReports pic.twitter.com/gPcouBI18t
— CapitalLivNews (@CapitalLivNews) July 8, 2022
