Burglar who threatened to abduct Gerrard's children jailed

London, June 7(ANI): An "extremely violent" burglar who threatened to abduct Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard's children during a raid on his Merseyside mansion in 2007 has been jailed for seven years and four months.

Martin Wilson was part of a gang of masked thieves who smashed their way into the home on December 11, 2007, when Gerrard was away for a Champions League game against Marseille.

At the time of the robbery, Gerrard's wife Alex Curran was at home with their two children, Lilly-Ella and Lexie, and their nanny Lyndsey Johnston.

The Liverpool Crown Court heard that Curran had confronted the gang who demanded that she hand over jewellery and contents of a safe or else they would "take her kids".

Sentencing Wilson, Judge Robert Warnock told him: "You threatened the occupants of the house with violence and the use of a knife. Particularly seriously, you threatened to abduct the children if she did not hand over the safe."

"You are both venal and extremely violent. You have no regard for the dignity and security that is the right of every householder. Your actions are determined by your own selfishness and greed," The Telegraph quoted Judge Warnock, as saying.

Wilson is already serving six years and eight months in jail after admitting conspiracy to burgle at Liverpool Crown Court last June.

The court further said that the latest sentence will run concurrently, and is expected to add another two years to his total time in prison. (ANI)