A Liverpool Football Club training ground worker stole portraits of former managers and pennants from key games, a court was told.
Gary Wilson, 40, of Briars Lane, Burscough, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to one count of theft by employee from Liverpool Football Club's former training ground at Melwood and their new complex in Kirkby between December 1, 2019, and March 17, 2023. Yvonne Dobson, prosecuting, said: “In December 2021, Liverpool Football Club were made aware of a website selling items belonging to Liverpool Football Club players.
“The football club began an investigation as these items were being sold without the permission of the club.” The court was told an enquiry was made to the website to buy a pair of boots that were allegedly worn by captain Jordan Henderson, and a video was sent back to them.
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In that video, Wilson, who worked as a security guard at the training ground, could be seen in the reflection so was subsequently identified. He was arrested on February 3, 2022, and his phone was seized and searched.
Ms Dobson said it showed multiple multimedia items implicating him in theft from the club. In a basis of plea, Wilson admitted to stealing a portrait of legendary manager Bill Shankly, a portrait of his iconic successor Bob Paisley, a pennant from a Community Shield game between Manchester City and Liverpool, a pennant from a European game with Napoli, and a number of programmes from the Liverpool v Tottenham Champions League final, which the Reds won 2-0.
The portrait of Bob Paisley and the pennants were returned to the club, but the portrait of Bill Shankly and the Champions League programmes were not. Wilson has one previous conviction, but not of this nature and from many years ago.
Kevin Liston, defending, said there was no evidence of any financial gain at all to his client, and highlighted that most of the items had been returned. He said: “This was out of character course of conduct, from a 40-year-old man who is a family man, a father of four, who has a stable existence in rented accommodation.
“He is engaged to be married, a carer for an 89-year-old lady who is the grandmother of his partner, and a sole practitioner running a business for him and his fiancé while she is on maternity leave. It is a matter that has brought shame to him and his family.
“It was a job that he really enjoyed and held a good relationship with the players."
Wilson was sentenced to a 12 month community order, and ordered to complete 221 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay £650 in costs and a £90 victim surcharge.
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