TOWIE star's home raided by thief as £70,000 in cash and jewellery stolen

19 December 2023 , 20:52

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TOWIE star's home raided by thief as £70,000 in cash and jewellery stolen

The Only Way Is Essex star Mario Falcone lost nearly £70,000 worth of jewellery, designer clothes and cash after a break-in at his home in Brentwood.

Jordan McKenzie-Pryce, 38, burgled Mr Falcone's home while he and his family were holidaying abroad last year. McKenzie-Pryce, a dad-of-three of Leverson Street in Norbury, Streatham, ransacked the reality TV star's home, stealing a gold Rolex watch, Mario's wedding ring and other jewellery, "high-end" fashion items including handbags and a MacBook, plus around £5,000 cash, totalling £69,000 worth of goods.

In a victim impact statement read out at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday (December 18), Mr Falcone said the items have never been returned and his social life has been deeply affected due to the fears of leaving their home unoccupied.

Jordan McKenzie-Pryce burgled Mario's home (Essex Live / BPM Media)

Mario says his social life has been deeply affected (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The court heard that Mr Falcone, who is now a father of two, had gone on holiday with his family in September 2022, but just days into the break had received a phone call advising him that his house had been burgled. Following his arrest, McKenzie-Pryce's home was searched where pictures of some of the stolen goods were found on his phone, along with a floor plan of the Falcones' home, per Essex Live.

Judge Jamie Sawyer told the court that Mr Falcone had left his house fully locked up with "alarms fully engaged". The judge said it was believed he was targeted because of his status as a reality TV star and him sharing details of his life on social media.

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There was a "thorough" search of the home, the judge said, with all of the drawers being searched, with the bedroom cabinets and drawers all open. A shovel was also found in the bathroom. Prosecuting, Keith Hadrill said: "He found that items had been taken out of the house, a number of expensive items.

"A gold Rolex, £5,000 in cash, a wedding ring worth £15,000, a total of £69,000. Many of the items had sentimental value and was never returned. He [Mr Falcone] said by reason of CCTV he can determine that the burglary occurred between 12am and 2.30am on September 5, 2022." Mr Hadrill said voices could be heard in the CCTV footage.

In a victim impact statement from Mario Falcone read out by Mr Hadrill, he said: "The thought of someone being in my house which should have been a safe place is terrifying. We have changed the way we live because my son doesn't have to have baby monitors anymore. We made the decision for safety to continue with the monitor.

"Those responsible were professional criminals that probably wouldn't care if we were in the house anyway. My wife and I don't really go out on dates now because we don't want to leave the children in the house with friends and family.

"Although I can afford to purchase the items again that's not the point. The watch and other items have huge sentimental value. That watch I wore on my wedding day and I would have worn that until the time to pass it onto my son on his wedding day. My entire life has been affected by this. I questioned at the time posting things on my social media and whether I would be a target. It shouldn't be like this."

Mitigating for McKenzie-Pryce, Lawrence McNulty said that he had been in and out of prison and was the father of three children. He said he had previously got a job in the music industry but was unable to continue when the record company moved to the USA and he couldn't follow due to his criminal record, forcing him to go back into a life of crime.

The court also heard that McKenzie-Pryce had carried out the burglary of the Falcones' home just days after being involved in a shooting in Waltham Abbey where a man was shot in the arm by a shotgun. Judge Sawyer said McKenzie-Pryce made Mr Falcone feel like his home had been "invaded" and jailed him for 12 years with an extra two on licence for the burglary and firearms offences. McKenzie-Pryce must also pay Mario Falcone £25,000 in compensation.

A representative for Mr Falcone was contacted for comment.

Harry Rutter