Mr Dilks is accused of robbing former Premier League defender Ashley Cole at his home in Surrey in January 2020.

Cole, who won 107 caps for his country, was allegedly “led around his house” wearing only a pair of shorts after gang members threatened to mutilate his hand.

Mr Brady said: “Mr Cole mentioned that one of the attackers, a stocky more aggressive man who also spoke with an Irish accent, kept saying, ‘Let’s cut his fingers’.

At the time, he was armed with a pair of pliers.” The ex-footballer’s partner, Sharon Canu, alerted police while hiding in a wardrobe and the robbers fled when officers arrived, making off with five designer watches and a couple of mobile phones, the court was told.

Huddlestone, a former Premier League footballer capped four times by England, was targeted at his home in Nottingham where his partner Joanna Dixon had her hands tied behind her back with cable ties, Mr Brady said.

Mr Brady said: “The presence of householders did not deter these defendants. They were armed with weapons. The presence of children did not perturb them.”

Mr Dilks, Mr Cumberpatch and Mr MacDonald are accused of burgling the home of Huddlestone and deny the charges. Mr Dilks is accused of burgling Cole.

Jurors were told that property stolen was passed to professional handlers. It was alleged that Tevfik Guccuk and Sercan Evsin, both Hatton Garden jewellers, were instructed to sell the items.

Mr Dilks, of Nottingham, faces three charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, four charges of converting criminal property, three charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and two counts of robbery.

Mr Cumberpatch, his partner Kelly Duong, Mr MacDonald, Matthew Johnson, Adrian Eddishaw, Darren Stokes, Christopher Yorke, Gordon Thornhill, Mr Guccuk, and Mr Evsin are also on trial for their alleged part in the series of “ruthlessly executed” burglaries.

All defendants deny the various charges against them. The trial continues.