Rhian Sugden pictured looking grim-faced amid ‘fears celebrity sex secrets could be leaked after robbery ordeal’
The Page 3 star has had £5,000 worth of goods stolen in the burglary
SHAKEN model Rhian Sugden told of her horror last night after returning home to find burglars had staged a terrifying daylight break in.
The Page 3 stunner was at the hair salon when crooks plundered thousands in luxury jewellery, designer handbags and electrical goods, and pals now fear her private pictures and messages could be leaked as a result.
The brazen thieves struck in the middle of the afternoon as Storm Doris wreaked havoc across the UK on Thursday, sparking fears the attack was pre-planned.
They smashed in through a glass patio door scattering glass throughout her detached home in leafy Prestwich, Greater Manchester, before fleeing.
Rhian, 30, told The Sun: “It was terrifying. I’m still shaken by it all. I’ve always been quite paranoid about something like this happening but I never thought it actually would.
“And now my worst fears have come true.
“I was only out for a couple of hours. When I came through the front door I saw the drawers open in my living room and just thought my two cats had been up to no good.
“But then I saw the patio doors had been smashed and glass was everywhere – I just froze in fear.
“I was alone and had no idea if the burglars were still inside. I burst into tears and rang my neighbour to come round.
“I couldn’t go upstairs, I didn’t know what to do.
“They’d turned the whole house upside down and rifled through all my possessions. It’s nerve-racking, I don’t know if I can stay in there again.
“Police came round and were very helpful. I told them about a few strange things that have happened recently and they believe the culprits could have been staking the house out waiting to strike.
“As it was during Storm Doris a lot of house alarms were going off and people paid less attention to them.
“And they’ve seized their chance to strike.
“They’ve taken a lot of items but nothing that can’t be replaced. It could have been a lot worse.
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“Thankfully no one was hurt. But I feel violated knowing people have been inside my home.
“And it’s even worse to think they’ve been watching and waiting without me knowing.”
A source close to the model told the that she is now worried her private pictures and messages involving her love life could now leak out as a result of the break-in.
The pal said: "She cannot get over the thought that strangers have been in her house. Her long-term worry is what might happen to her private pictures and messages.
"Rhian is a really down-to-earth, open person – they are among the qualities that make her so lovely.
"But it doesn’t matter how open you are, you are still entitled to privacy. “She is not certain she’ll ever feel safe to return to the house."
However, Rhian took to Twitter after the incident to deny claims a sex tape was among the stolen goods.
She wrote: “There was nothing incriminating on my laptop, just my new business which means everything to me. Everything else can be replaced.
“I still feel violated as as they went through everything and I’m disgusted that it has been used in the media to kick me when I’m down.
“Saying a sex tape will appear online. No it won’t as a sex tape doesn’t exist.”
She added: “I don’t know what people think I get up to in my spare time but I assure you I don’t have a cupboard full of “sex secrets” that have been stolen.
“It’s actually everything else they have taken.
“Thank you to to the kind-hearted people who have actually been supportive.”
Rhian, whose actor fiancé Oliver Mellor was away on a stage tour at the time, said she had noticed several suspicious incidents in the weeks leading up to the raid.
She added: “Our back gate has been left open a few times – but it scrapes across the floor and needs to be lifted up to be moved so it couldn’t have been the wind.
“And just 24 hours before someone knocked on my front door asking if ‘John’ lived here. They then gave me a false address and walked off.
“I’ve also spotted markings outside my house, which have since gone. It’s left me on edge. My nerves are shot.”
The lingerie model, who last year moved into the adult toy market after launching ToolBoxXx.com, added: “The items can be replaced, but my whole business is on my laptop. It’s everything to me.”
The incident is believed to have happened between 1.30pm and 7pm on Thursday.
Greater Manchester Police said they are investigating the incident, adding: “Police received reports of a burglary shortly after 7pm on Thursday.
“An officer attended and found intruders had broken in through a patio door before stealing a significant amount of personal items.
“We are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.”
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