Burglars threatened to take Gerrard's children, court told

THE wife of footballer Steven Gerrard was told by burglars they would "take her kids" in a terrifying raid on their home, a court heard yesterday.

Alex Curran confronted the masked gang who then dragged her through her house, Liverpool Crown Court was told. Details emerged after Martin Wilson, 22, admitted the burglary. He will be sentenced later.

Graham Pickavance, for the prosecution, told the court

the raid happened after Ms Curran, 27, had remained at the family home in Merseyside, with their two children, aged six and four, and their nanny Lyndsey Johnston during a Liverpool Champions League tie.

Mr Pickavance said the thieves raced up the stairs and one of them demanded "Where's the f****** safe?".

One of the gang then directed another to "get the blade out of the car," before telling Ms Curran: "If you don't tell us where the safe is, we'll take the kids."

They also forced her to hand over the silver Rolex watch she was wearing.

He added: "The men attempted to take the safe but they could not move it very far because it was too heavy.

"So they began to ransack the room."

He said Miss Johnston picked up a telephone but was caught before she was able to get through to emergency services.

She told the raiders she had made contact with the police so they demanded access to the CCTV system at the house.

The gang then ran out of the house through French windows to the patio which had been smashed when they gained entry.