The couple were at home in their £2 million north London mansion during the Covid-19 lockdown in May 2020 when the thieves struck. After getting past security and sneaking in the back door, the robbers set about intimidating Dele, his adoptive brother Harry Hickford, and Ruby. Dele was assaulted and forced to hand over three expensive watches before the assailants attempted to take Ruby’s jewelry. Fearing for her poodle, Uno, she lay quietly in the dark in her bedroom before being attacked.

“He started asking me where everything was while trying to take off my bracelets and rings. It was terrifying. I was just hoping for it all to be over and for us to be safe.” She added: “I couldn’t get the jewelry off as I was panicking and holding the dog behind me. I wasn’t answering his requests and I was terrified they were going to hurt Uno.

I didn’t know whether to tell them or not, and I didn’t even know where everything was. I wasn’t thinking straight.”

The thieves eventually panicked and made a break for it, jumping over the fence and disappearing with goods worth £350,000 before the police arrived. Despite the police’s best efforts, the criminals have still not been caught – and the victims have been left to deal with the psychological impacts. “It affected all of us,” Ruby explained.

“To get burgled is one thing, but to get burgled when you’re in is so scary. All of us were speechless. We were all just like, ‘What the hell has happened?’ We didn’t even know what to say to each other. “We were all very emotional and up and down.

We were tired and had to do the police interviews. It was all very traumatic. Psychologically, it has had an impact. Being home alone is scarier than it once was.

Every now and then I still think about it. I can’t believe it happened.” The 28-year-old has not played this season due to injuries and is set for a fresh start in the summer following a difficult period of his life.