UK Poker Pro's Scary Experience

Not only that UK poker pro Tom Carpenter lost his world-championship stake money, but he also had a frightening experience when a gang of masked burglars forced the back door and invaded his home in Tamworth, UK. A court in Stafford heard this week that the poker pro was preparing to fly to Las Vegas for a major tournament and had withdrawn that day US$ 5,000 dollars and around GBP 7,000 to finance his stay and tournament buy-ins. According to prosecutors Carpenter may have been overheard whilst giving his address when obtaining foreign currency, prompting the home invasion by the gang. Scarily enough, while demanding money from Carpenter, one member of the gang even wielded a machete. Using forensic techniques police tracked down and arrested two of the robbers, David Burns (30) and Andrew Craig (27). They admitted a charge of burglary, so Burns was jailed for 42 months and Craig for 32 months. Along with the fingerprints of the defendants uncovered by forensic testing, police also found a bloodstain matched to a third suspect who has since died. "This was a highly planned and professional burglary. It must have been an extremely frightening experience," concluded Judge Michael Chambers QC.