Ashley Cole among other targets of gang who stole £3.75m tiara, court told

Eleven on trial for Portland collection theft also accused of ruthless' burglaries of footballers' homes

A gang accused of stealing the 3.75m Portland tiara and brooch from a Nottinghamshire gallery in 2018 was involved in a number of ruthlessly executed" burglaries that also targeted footballers Ashley Cole and Tom Huddlestone, a court has heard.

Opening the case against 11 defendants at Nottingham crown court, the prosecutor, Michael Brady QC, said the burglaries and violent robberies were extremely serious, high-profile and carefully planned".