Mario Falcone has opened up about a ‘terrifying’ ordeal which saw his wedding ring and gold Rolex watch stolen in a £70,000 home raid while he was on holiday.
The TOWIE star, 35, had a £15,000 wedding ring and a gold Rolex watch and other jewellery stolen during the raid on his home in Brentwood, Essex.
Jordan McKenzie-Pryce, 38, burgled the reality TV star’s home while he and his family were abroad in September 2022, Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Monday.
Judge Sawyer said McKenzie-Pryce made Mario feel like his home had been ‘invaded’ and jailed him for 12 years, while he must also pay the star £25,000 in compensation.
In a victim impact statement, Mario admitted the thought of someone breaking into his and his wife Becky Miesner’s shared home was ‘terrifying’ and said his ‘entire life’ was ‘affected’ by the ordeal.
Mario Falcone (pictured in 2018) has opened up about a ‘terrifying’ ordeal which saw his wedding ring and Rolex watch stolen in a £70,000 home raid while he was on holiday
The father-of-two admitted his social life was deeply affected due to the fears of leaving their home unoccupied, and said the items stolen had ‘huge sentimental value’, including his wedding ring and watch – which he wore on his wedding day.
In the statement, read out by Keith Hadrill, prosecuting, Mario 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.’
The court heard how McKenzie-Pryce, a father-of-three from Norbury, Streatham, ransacked Mario’s home and stole ‘high-end’ items including handbags and a Macbook, plus around £5,000 in cash, totalling £69,000 worth of goods.
Mario had gone on holiday with his family in September 2022, but just days into the break received a phone call advising him that his house had been burgled.
Mario and his wife Becky shared a son Parker Jax, now four, at the time of the ordeal, before welcoming a daughter Cali Roux in May this year.
Jordan McKenzie-Pryce, 38, burgled the star’s home while he and his family were abroad in September 2022, Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Monday. He has been jailed for 12 years
In a victim impact statement, Mario admitted the thought of someone breaking into his and his wife Becky Miesner’s home was ‘terrifying’ and said his ‘entire life’ was ‘affected’ by the ordeal
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.
Judge Jamie Sawyer told the court that Mario had left his house 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.
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 were 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.’
He added that voices could be heard in the CCTV footage.
Mitigating for McKenzie-Pryce, Lawrence McNulty said that he had been in and out of prison and was the father of three children.
Mario is married to Becky Miesner and they shared a son Parker Jax, now four, at the time of the ordeal, before welcoming a daughter Cali Roux in May this year
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.
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 Mario 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 £25,000 in compensation.