Jack Grealish has spoken out for the first time since burglars targeted his home in a £1 million ‘jewellery raid’ last week.
The distressing incident at the Manchester City and England midfielder’s Cheshire mansion was reported to have taken place while the 28-year-old was in action playing up against Everton in a 3-1 Premier League victory on Boxing Day (Wednesday 27 December), all according to reports in The Sun, and several other reputable publications.
Around 10 members of the footballer‘s extended family were thought to have been inside the property at the time of the distressing incident, it has been reported.
The Birmingham-born player’s parents and long-term girlfriend Sasha Attwood were said to have been among those present in the home watching the match on TV at the time.
Jack Grealish has been targeted by thieves in a £1 million ‘jewellery raid’ at his Cheshire mansion / Credit: Jack Grealish (via Instagram)
The Sun’s reports suggested the family heard noises coming from upstairs, and Grealish‘s dogs soon began barking, prompting the family to subsequently press the property’s panic alarm to alert security and authorities – with police responding shortly after and going on to deploy officers, a dogs unit, and a helicopter.
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Reports have suggested the thieves got away with around £1 million worth of jewellery and watches, but no suspects were said to have been found at the time.
Now, for the first time since the incident, Jack Grealish has broken his silence and taken to Instagram to speak out on the “traumatic experience” his family endured.
Claiming he’d been left “devastated” by the events, the footballer wrote in a statement: “I can’t begin to explain how devastated I am over the burglary that took place at my home a few days ago. My family mean the world to me and nothing is more important than ensuring their safety. This has been a traumatic experience for all of us, I am just so grateful that nobody was hurt.
“I have had so many amazing experiences and achievements over the last 12 months, but to be honest, the best year of my life in football now doesn’t feel like something I can celebrate.
“The people that commit these terrible crimes have no idea of the damage they cause to peoples lives. I hope they are found and brought to justice so no other family has to go through what we have.
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Jack Grealish with his parents, siblings, and girlfriend at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar / Credit: Sasha Rebecca (via Instagram)
“I appreciate the messages from everyone and the support from my friends, teammates, and the club.
“On a more positive note, I’d like to thank everyone for their support throughout this past year, and I wish you and your family a happy 2024.”
The post amassed thousands of supportive comments from members of the public, as well as several of Grealish’s teammates.
Fellow Manchester City players Ederson, Jeremy Doku, Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, and Sergio Gomez were among those to comment on the post, as was former Aston Villa teammate John McGinn, and England teammate James Maddison also sent well wishes.
Bolton man, 22, jailed after his ‘dangerous driving’ kills motorbike rider just days before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
A man from Bolton has been sentenced to more than a decade in jail after causing death by dangerous driving.
Cormac Sale, 22-years-old of Ina Avenue in Bolton, has been sentenced at Bolton Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving following a collision between a car and motorbike in Horwich, which saw another young man lose his life just days before Christmas (Saturday 14 December 2024).
At around 9:40pm that evening, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to an incident on Chorley Old Road in Bolton.
When they arrived, they found that a Skoda Fabia – belonging to Sale – had collided with a motorbike. Spencer Rothwell-Poole, also 22 and from Horwich, was riding the motorbike at the time and sadly died at the scene.
Following Sale’s arrest at the scene, further testing was conducted and he was found to be almost 10 times over the legal limit for ketamine whilst driving when the incident occurred.
Investigations by GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit led to ‘significant evidence’ being obtained of Sale ‘driving erratically’ throughout the evening, as spotted by multiple other drivers and CCTV footage, and he was also driving on the opposite side of the road when the collision took place.
Sale has been sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison, as well as being banned from driving for 12 years.
“This sentencing reflects the devastating consequences of choosing to drive recklessly and whilst under the influence,” commented Detective Constable James Maskrey, who is GMP’s Roads Police Lead Investigator.
“Nothing can undo the loss suffered by Spencer’s family, but it is our hope that this outcome offers some measure of justice.
“When someone gets behind the wheel under the influence of ketamine, they have no control of their own judgement or body, and even a moment where drivers are dissociated or unaware on the road can be fatal.
“This case is a stark reminder that dangerous driving destroys lives, and I want to reassure the public that our officers remain absolutely committed to tackling dangerous driving and removing those who pose a risk to our roads.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Brewdog’s beer hotel in Manchester has closed with immediate effect
Daisy Jackson
The ‘beer hotel’ operated by Brewdog in Manchester has closed with immediate effect, as part of the Scottish brewery’s £33m sale.
A whopping 38 Brewdog bars around the UK have closed, resulting in hundreds of job losses.
As well as the beer hotel known as DogHouse in Manchester, which was home to a large bar and rooftop terrace, the Oxford Road brewpub known as the OutPost has also closed.
The DogHouse Hotel on Fountain Street had a range of boutique bedrooms, fitted with features like beer fridges in the shower, beer taps in the room, guitars, record players, and pet beds.
Just 11 pubs have been retained in the rescue deal, including the Brewdog bar on Peter Street in Manchester city centre.
The brewery has been bought by US beverage and medical cannabis company Tilray for £33m, a sale which includes its UK brewery operations, brand, and a handful of pubs.
Yesterday, Brewdog announced all of its bars would be closed for the day to enable staff to attend staff meetings.
Administrators confirmed yesterday that 484 jobs had been lost in the sale, with 38 bars closing.
Unite, the union which represents thousands of hospitality workers, said it is ‘appalled’ at how Brewdog staff have been treated during the sale.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a devastating day for Brewdog workers. Nearly 500 lost livelihoods while yet another corporate deal is stitched together behind closed doors.
“Brewdog workers built this brand. They deserved respect. Instead, they were treated as disposable pawns. Unite will not rest until our members have legal and financial justice.”
Unite national lead for hospitality Bryan Simpson said: “The way in which senior management have conducted themselves throughout this sales process has been nothing short of a national disgrace – with workers being given no information about the company’s plans or their futures.
“For the CEO to tell workers that they were redundant with immediate effect, on a conference call with only 25 minutes notice, has echoes of P&O and is deplorable. Unite will be ensuring that our members receive everything they are legally entitled to.”
Brewdog was founded in 2007 by friends James Watt and Martin Dickie.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd January 2024 
