​Everton assistant Cole convinced he would die during home invasion | OneFootball

Former England star Ashley Cole told the British police that he feared for his life when masked raiders entered his home.

The ex-Arsenal and Chelsea left-back, who is currently assistant coach at Everton, was at home when four men broke into his place in January 2020.

Kurtis Dilks, who is 34, is being charged for his role in the incident.

The gang is said to have entered Cole's house with a sledgehammer and threatened to cut his fingers off.

During a police interview shown at Nottingham Crown Court, Cole said: "I was on my knees, waiting to either be killed… I'll never see my kids again."

He told police: "As soon as I put Netflix on, literally 10 to 15 seconds after that, I heard like a banging sound.

"I could hear it was like outside of my bedroom, just to the left, coming through the window.

"The banging was vibrating up the walls into my bedroom. I literally looked at Sharon [Canu - partner]… and I said, 'what's that?'"

He added: "I could see they were carrying a ladder towards my balcony.

"I said, 'Sharon, there's someone in the garden trying to get on the balcony… call the police'."

Cole continued: "I just looked at (Ms Canu) and said, 'there's people coming in the house, get the kids and call the police'.

He went on to say about his children: "I thought if I hide maybe they're going to be more angry and if I have got my baby on my lap they won't hurt us."

He went on to say: "I said it wouldn't affect me, but Jesus."

Cole finished: "I just heard lots of footsteps running up the stairs.

"Obviously, before that I heard the window smash.

"I was being brave, I didn't want to show our daughter that I was scared for our lives."