Footballer chased off burglars after being ‘woken by torch through bedroom window’
Two thieves who targeted several properties, including the home of a professional footballer, have been jailed for more than four-and-a-half years.
Denis Puka, 28, and Erisjan Laska, 29, along with a third unidentified accomplice, embarked on a “sophisticated and well-planned” burglary spree targeting seven properties over three consecutive nights last June.
Judge Steven Everett, Honorary Recorder of Chester, described their operation this way, noting that they had booked an Airbnb room in Warrington as their base.
The duo, who are both Albanian nationals, traveled from outside the area, mainly Cheshire, to commit the offenses, using a Seat Leon from Sheffield with three fake number plates during the raids.
The defendants also equipped themselves with masks, gadgets and walkie-talkies, Chester Crown Court heard.
Milton Keynes Dons forward Scott Hogan’s home in Northwich, Cheshire, was among the properties selected between 5-7 June.
Hogan, 33, who also played for Aston Villa and Birmingham City, was woken up by the light of a torch coming through his bedroom window at around 23.30 on June 7.
Prosecutor Nardeen Nemat said that the football player’s wife, who was pregnant at the time, and his little daughter were also at home at the time.
He said: “The defendants climbed over the fence into the garden. One defendant climbed on the other’s shoulder, climbed the cages on the house and reached the bedroom window.
“Mr Hogan was in his bedroom when he was awakened by a torchlight shining through his bedroom window. He looked outside and saw three men on the floor.
“Mr. Hogan ran after the men, but the men ran away.”
The prosecutor said nothing was stolen but Mr Hogan had installed a new security system to protect his young family.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr Hogan said the incident “led to many sleepless nights filled with stress and anxiety”.
He added: “I can’t quite put into words what a dramatic impact this has had on me and my family.”
Two addresses in Blackpool, Lancashire, were previously targeted in the late evening of 5 June; The defendants gained access to one of the properties and searched every room except the bedroom where their victim was sleeping, but nothing was stolen in either incident.
The defendants attacked properties in Grappenhall, Knutsford and Northwich the following night.
They again came away empty-handed from the first two raids after being disturbed, but did steal a Breitling watch and a Rolex watch (worth a total of £9,000) from a mansion in Northwich while the owners were on holiday.
Miss Nemat said the men bought crowbars from B&Q in Warrington on June 7 before targeting the next two targets: a mansion in Warrington and Mr Hogan’s home, from which they fled after being disturbed.
The defendants were arrested after the Seat Leon was found from a housing estate in Warrington more than a week later with items including mobile phones, clothing worn by the defendants, tools and fake number plates.
Sentencing the pair on Tuesday, Judge Everett told them: “What is clear is that this was a sophisticated and well-planned conspiracy.
“Each of you must understand the great destruction your selfish and despicable actions have caused.
“Mr. Hogan woke up with a torch in his face. What a frightening and awful experience that must have been.”
He stated that Laska’s pre-sentence report showed that he “minimized his crimes”.
The judge told Laska: “You just want to blame everyone. I’m sure you feel in a difficult situation.”
“It’s time to wake up and realize the immense trauma your actions have caused.”
The court heard Laska, who had two previous convictions for minor traffic offences, was a father of two young children and married to a British woman, and his “Home Office application is currently pending”.
Phil Astbury, defending Puka, said his client had been given permission to stay in the UK indefinitely.
“He has no previous criminal record and is said to come from a very good family. His mother is shocked by what he has done.
“He is a positive, good-character young man with a good work record who contributes to society in every way.”
Laska, of Eccles Street, Sheffield, and Puka, of Parliament Street, Crediton, Devon, pleaded guilty to seven counts of conspiracy to commit robbery at an earlier hearing.
