A robber threatened to cut off former England full-back Ashley Cole's fingers with a pair of pliers during a violent break-in at his home, a court was told Monday. Nottingham Crown Court heard Cole, 41, was led around the house in just a pair of shorts as intruders demanded jewelry in January 2020. Kurtis Dilks, 34, is accused of being a member of a four-strong gang who smashed their way into Cole's home with a sledgehammer. Jurors were told Cole and his partner Sharon Canu each had their hands bound by cable ties, and the court was shown CCTV of the intruders leading Cole, who played for both Arsenal and Chelsea, down the stairs.