A FORMER semi-professional footballer who was part of a gang that smashed their way into a student house has been jailed.
Reiss Morley was among masked raiders who forced their way into a shared home in Foxhall Road, Forest Fields, on October 14 last year.
They smashed the front door with a hammer and rounded up four terrified housemates in the living room.
One of the raiders held a knife to a man's ear and threatened to cut it off as he repeatedly demanded money, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Another victim was confronted by one of the masked men in his bedroom and led out with a knife held to his shoulder.
A third was told he was "dead" if he called police.
Robby Singh, prosecuting, said the gang trashed the property in only 15 minutes and left with laptops, cash, wallets, passports and important paperwork. They fled when they realised someone had called police.
Officers Matthew Ellis and Caroline Walbey caught 23-year-old Morley, of Bracknell Crescent, Whitemoor, who said: "I only did it because I was skint."
His accomplices were never arrested and Morley was the only one sentenced. He had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary.
Judge Michael Stokes QC commended officers Ellis and Walbey for their "fast response" in catching the once talented sportsman.
And he told him: "Can you imagine what it must be like to be lying in your bed late at night, with the solid door firmly locked, to hear that door being smashed open with a hammer or hammers?
"And then for at least three, probably four, men wearing face covers to burst into your home demanding money, threatening you if you were going to call police and having a knife put to the throat or neck and then going off with valuable property?
"It must be terrifying, and I have noted over the last few months there appears to be an increase in this activity.
"I have a case to sentence this afternoon where a group of men burst into someone's home looking for a cannabis grow. This sort of behaviour cannot be tolerated."
The court heard there was a small amount of cannabis growing in an absent tenant's room but police did not believe it was why the semi-detached house was targeted.
Michael Evans said, in mitigation, that Morley, who has no previous convictions, was normally a very respectful and well-liked young man.
He had been a semi-professional footballer, although his team was not mentioned in court, and he had studied sport at South Nottinghamshire College and Basford Hall College.
Mr Evans said: "He apologises for his behaviour. He has a family who have no involvement with the criminal justice system."
