A court has heard that the man alleged to have burgled Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard’s home was a Fulham fan.
He defaced a wall at the England international’s property with the slogan ‘FFC forever,’ which the prosecution explained to the court denoted his sympathies to Chelsea’s Premier League rivals.
Blackfriars Crown Court heard Lampard, 27, and his pregnant fiancee were asleep during the burglary on 18 May.
James Gould, 26, of Salford Road, Streatham, south London, denies burglary and two counts of theft.
Prosecutor Caroline Haughey said Lampard was woken by the sound of a car engine and noticed the graffiti when he went upstairs.
Finding his front door open, he looked out and saw his two cars, an Aston Martin DB9 and a Mercedes Jeep, had been stolen.
Other items taken included a plasma TV still in its box, a top of the range stereo system, football trophies and two pairs of the player’s boots.
The court heard tracker devices in both cars were activated and the Aston Martin was discovered nearby soon after.
The Mercedes Jeep was spotted by a police officer near Battersea Bridge, south London.
Officers waited near the Jeep and saw a man arrive, unlock a door and remove a large cardboard box containing the TV, the court was told.
“It is accepted by the defence that this man who picked up the box was James Gould,” Miss Haughey said.
She said he was chased by the officers and caught.
All the stolen goods were later recovered except for the football boots.
The trial continues.
