A Liverpool FC training ground worker who stole from the club claimed Reds' left-back Kostas Tsimikas offered to be a character witness for him.
Gary Wilson, of Briars Lane, Burscough, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to one count of theft from the Liverpool Football Club training ground. The 40-year-old stole a portrait of Bill Shankly, a portrait of Bob Paisley, a pendant from the charity shield game between Manchester City and Liverpool, a pendant from a European game with Napoli, and a number of programmes from the Liverpool and Tottenham Champions League final between December 1, 2019, and March 17, 2023.
On Monday, 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.”
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The court heard an enquiry was made to the website to buy a pair of boots claiming to have been worn by Jordan Henderson and a video was sent back to them. In that video, Wilson, who worked as a security guard at the training ground, could be seen in the reflection and was identified. He was arrested on February 3, 2022 and his phone was seized and searched.
Kevin Liston, defending, said there was no evidence his client gained financially and most of the items had been returned. He said: “This was and 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 fiance 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, including Kostas Tsimikas, who made contact to act as a character referee but was prevented from doing so by the club.”
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.
Liverpool Football Club have been approached for comment.
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