Wayne Rooney’s stalker jailed as wife Coleen admits she had ‘sleepless nights’ after he tried to burgle their mansion
The WAG told court how she feared for her children's safety after masked intruder carrying backpack and 'sinister' contents tried to force his way in
COLEEN Rooney suffered "sleepless nights" after a masked ex-squaddie tried to burgle her home during Wayne's club testimonial match, she told a court heard today.
Robert McNamara, 24 - who is said to be obsessed with the England football captain - was jailed for two years and eight months today for the bungled raid on the couple's £6million mansion.
He tried to force his way then dumped a backpack in the garden which a juddge said had "sinister" contents - including cable ties,a balaclava and a head torch.
Before the raid McNamara had made two 240-mile round-trip "reconnaissance missions" from his home in Scarborough, North Yorks, to stake out Roo's home in Prestbury, Cheshire.
On his third trip he triggered high-tech laser security alarms at the Manchester United striker's property at about 8.30pm on August 3, prompting police to race to the scene to hunt for the intruder.
Their home was targeted at the player, 31, his wife Coleen, 30, and their three sons, Kai, seven, Klay, three, and baby Kit, were attending the charity tribute game at Old Trafford against his first club, Everton.
Coleen said in an impact statement read to Chester crown court the raid caused her to fear for her children's safety.
She said: “Just after it happened it caused us sleepless nights, worrying and watching security cameras fearing someone was out there.
”I fear for my children playing outside in the garden and still do. It knocks me sick that someone was creeping around the garden in the daylight.”
She said it caused anxiety when her husband was away and she no longer felt comfortable in the home unless a friend or family member was with her.
Coleen added: “I’m just happy the children were asleep and didn’t have to see what was going on.”
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The court heard the Rooney home has 32 security cameras - which captured McNamara prowling in the grounds.
He is shown in CCTV footage walking around the gardens and the perimeter of the property wearing a black balaclava and a rucksack.
He can be seen trying to open one of the outside door handles of the Rooneys’ home as he paces back and forth around the property.
Coleen left Old Trafford when she was told of the raid and arrived home to find the house full of police. Thankfully he kids were "asleep" and unaware what had happened, the court heard.
McNamara was arrested six days later. Cops found a second rucksask at his home containing a ski mask with black tape over it that could have been used as a blindfold, the court heard.
He admitted attempted burglary at an earlier hearing in October.
Taryn Turner, defending, described her client’s actions as an "amateurish attempt to get into the Rooney household".
She said McNamara suffers from mental health issues after seven years in the armed forces.
His father and brother are said to have become "increasingly alarmed" with his "very disturbed behaviour".
The family had sought help earlier this year from Combat Stress, a veterans' mental health charity, the court heard.
Sentencing judge Patrick Thompson said his actions were carefully planned, adding: "It's concerning as to what your intent would have been had you gained entrance to the property and come across somebody else."
England captain Wayne was said to be “deeply shocked” by the attempted break in at his home and upped security at the property.
Neighbours described the scene as cops pounced on the masked raiders as “like something out of an action film”.
Lights and sirens blared as elaborate security system detected the potential intrusion, bringing a swarm of cops racing to the property.
Within minutes, they had scrambled a helicopter and three patrol cars, while dog handlers scoured the mansion grounds.
Robert McNamara at an earlier court hearingOne resident in the village of Prestbury, Cheshire, said at the time: “Wayne has amazing security to make sure his wife Coleen and the kids are OK while he is away.
“It’s like a fortress.
“It was like something out of a movie with alarms shrieking and search lights flashing on.
“The police seemed to appear from nowhere.
“They were swarming all over the place.”
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