Businessman walks free after handling goods stolen from footballer’s home

A BUSINESSMAN found with more than £23,000 (about €34,000)) worth of football medals and shirts burgled from the home of a Premiership player walked free from court yesterday.

Martin Roche, aged 26, hoarded the goods stolen from the home of Liverpool FC goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, after a break-in at the player’s home in Caldy, Merseyside, in June.

Roche said he was given them outside a pub in Liverpool not knowing they were stolen, and put them in a cupboard at his home, Liverpool Crown Court was told.