A convicted burglar who targeted Raheem Sterling‘s Cheshire mansion along with several other properties has had his own home taken off him.
Thomas Mee had already been jailed for more than eight years, but after a hearing 16 November, Cheshire Police has now confirmed a judge ruled that he had benefitted from his crimes to the sum of £586,117.36 – and as a result, had now had his home taken from him under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
The 45-year-old was part of a gang who stole more than £600,000 after committing at least 14 burglaries at addresses in Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire, and Warwickshire between November 2018 and October 2019.
The group specifically-targeted homes in affluent rural locations.
They were said to have stolen high-value watches, designer handbags, and jewellery that came to be worth more than half-a-million pounds.
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Thomas Mee was part of a gang who stole more than £600,000 after committing at least 14 burglaries / Credit: Cheshire Police
Cheshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit began an investigation into the gang, and then began piecing together evidence that linked the trio to burglaries across Goostrey, Neston, Allostock, Mere, Chelford, and Lymm.
Mee’s downfall eventually came on 5 October 2019 when police received a 999 call from a resident in Prestbury reporting that a family member had disturbed intruders at their home.
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He was arrested while attempting to flee the property, and was subsequently charged with the burglaries, all before he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and three counts of handling stolen goods.
Footballer Raheem Sterling’s mansion in Cheshire was one of the homes targeted / Credit: Raheem Sterling (via Instagram)
Mee was sentenced to eight years and seven months imprisonment at Chester Crown Court on Friday 31 July 2020.
Police explained that the sum of £586,117.36 Mee had “benefitted” from has been determined from equity in his home in Liverpool – which will need to be sold – along with cash, jewellery, designer clothing, and funds recovered from bank accounts.
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The court has also ordered Mee to pay £249,012.17 within the next three months, or face a further two years imprisonment.
Featured Image – Cheshire Police
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
15th December 2022 
