A 32-year-old man has been arrested and subsequently bailed on suspicion of burglary after a break-in at the home of England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes. The incident took place on October 17 in County Durham while Stokes was on tour in Pakistan. Stokes’ wife and two young children were present at the time of the break-in, although, fortunately, they were unharmed.
The burglars stole valuables, including a medal awarded to Stokes in the 2020 New Year Honours for his role in England’s 2019 World Cup win. Stokes posted photos of the stolen items, which include a Christian Dior handbag, a gold ring with the England cricket insignia, and several bracelets, describing the incident as deeply upsetting for his family.
Reflecting on the experience, Stokes said his family has been emotionally affected by the incident, adding, “All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been.” The break-in happened during England’s Test series against Pakistan, where the team ultimately lost 2-1.