Man accused of celebrity burglary plot tells court he met with two males accused of breaking into home of Frank and Christine Lampard

Multilingual Alexandru Stan, 49, agreed he met with two men later accused of burgling the home of Chelsea FC manager Frank Lampard and television presenter wife Christine Lampard in December last year, the first of three linked raids carried out in West London.

But he was only doing so after being contacted by his long-term friend on behalf of the two alleged burglars so he could help them buy a car to find work.

Stan, his friend and the two men dined at what was described to him as one of Arsenal footballer Mesut Ozil’s favourite Turkish restaurants in Golders Green during which it was agreed Stan would help them change 1,500 euro to pounds sterling, and to send them pictures of any cars he found to buy, in exchange for a “tip” of £100-200.

Prosecutors said the two men Stan met later raided the Lampards’ home, before meeting up with Stan at his home in Harrow, north-west London, to change their clothes after becoming bloodied as they made a hurried exit from the property.

Giving evidence in the dock at Isleworth Crown Court, Stan, a hotel concierge earning less than £10 an hour, said he was pleased to help his long-time friend and make some money on the side.

Stan, who is Romanian, said: “It was the first time in 30 years he (the friend) asked me for help. I was happy, for once, he needed me.”

His defence counsel, David Jeremy QC, asked: “Did you think you were getting involved in something illegal or illicit that might come back to bite you?”

Stan, a father-of-three who moved to England in 2019 to “fulfil my dream” of getting a university degree, replied: “No.”

Prosecutors say Stan, 49, plus co-defendants Maria Mester, 47, Sorin Marcovici, 53, and Emil Bogdan Savastru, 30, were members of a “supporting cast” to alleged burglars when cash, jewellery and property worth £26 million was stolen in the largest domestic burglary plot ever seen in the UK.

Victims also included the late Leicester City FC owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and socialite Tamara Ecclestone, daughter of ex-Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The alleged burglars cannot be named for legal reasons, although Stan and his co-accused are said to have arranged transport, accommodation and other assistance at various times, before helping launder the proceeds, following the raids during a two week period in December last year.

The defendants deny all charges, including conspiracy to burgle.