Tri-Service
Ex-Serviceman Admits Trying To Break Into Rooney's Mansion
A former serviceman has admitted to trying to break into Wayne Rooney's mansion while the footballer took part in a testimonial match.
Robert McNamara, from Scarborough in North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court to attempting to break into the £6 million house with the intent to steal on August 3.
Police were called to the England star’s home in Prestbury, Cheshire, after the alarm was triggered at around 9pm.
Rooney was with his wife and three sons at the charity game at Old Trafford when the attempted break-in took place.
McNamara was arrested six days later.
The court heard that he had recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and his family had sought help earlier this year from the veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress.
Judge Nicholas Woodward said there were "very worrying features" in the case and adjourned sentencing until December 21 for a pre-sentence report to be carried out.
McNamara’s barrister, Taryn Turner, said his family had concerns over her client’s mental state, she said:
"They thought he had been suffering post-traumatic stress disorder. There has been a deterioration since about January and February of this year and it reached crisis point in May. The family were asking for help and went to Combat Stress."
McNamara was released on bail and told not to enter Cheshire except to attend court.
He was also told to surrender his passport and to observe an electronically monitored curfew between 7pm and 7am daily.
Cover image: Wikimedia Commons
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