'Pals of Cole’ in £2m sting on jewellers! Gang posed as Ash's mates

Posted Monday, March 04, 2013 by The Sun

Ashley Cole ... thieves used his name

ROBBERS snatched jewellery worth up to £2million after claiming to be pals of soccer ace Ashley Cole.

They duped gem traders into meeting them with a briefcase of diamond watches and jewels after posing as associates of the England and Chelsea star.

The traders — from London’s Hatton Garden jewellery district — agreed to take the valuables to a hotel six miles away. But they were lured out of the five-star Hotel Verta in Battersea, then threatened and robbed in the street.

The victims said they trusted the attackers because of their claimed links to Cole, 32.

A source told The Sun: “Ashley’s name came up in conversations. But police realised he had nothing to do with this.

Hit ... Hatton Garden

“His name had just been used by robbers to carry out this con.”

Two men were later arrested. Raphael Francis, 22, and Eaton Barrie, 33, both of Norwood, South London, were charged with robbery.

Cole is the second Premier League ace in a month to be dragged into a police probe.

Spurs and England striker Jermain Defoe was quizzed over alleged threats to kill two women after £200,000 in jewels and clothes went missing from his home. He was released without charge.