AN EX-BRISTOL City footballer has been sentenced to three years in prison after taking part in a ‘wicked’ burglary conspiracy in which up to �100,000 worth of goods was stolen.

Andrew Llewellyn played at right back for the South West’s biggest football club for a decade from 1984-94, and was a key part of the promotion winning side in 1990.

But yesterday (Wed) the 45-year-old, of Bedford Road in Weston, appeared at Bristol Crown Court to face sentencing for conspiracy to burgle.

The court heard how Llewellyn used his position at Royal Mail to provide addresses of empty Weston homes to accomplice Adam Holmes between April and July last year.

Edward Burgess, prosecuting, said Holmes then targeted 18 ‘high value’ houses, mainly owned by elderly people, and the contents stolen from them were worth up to �100,000.

Mr Burgess said: “Ironically the homes involved were members of the Keep Safe Scheme, which is meant to prevent burglaries.

“The scheme enables the occupant’s post to be stored, preventing burglars from seeing it accumulating.

“The defendant was employed by the post office and had access to information as to which homes were in the scheme.

“It’s insulting, the sense of violation must be worse in these circumstances.”

Holmes, of Argyle Avenue in Weston, was sentenced to six years in prison on February 8.

Mark Worsley, defending Llewellyn, said the former soccer star had felt pressured to supply the details because he owed Holmes money.

He told the court Llewellyn had borrowed �300 from Holmes three years before the offence happened, with no deadline to pay it back.

But when Holmes wanted the cash repaid, Llewellyn received 106 phone calls from him and a man who he did not recognise - who said he knew the route his 10-year-old son used to walk home from school.

Mr Worsley said: “He (Llewellyn) was barraged with calls to give more addresses.

“The Keep Safe Scheme has names and addresses of residents and their away dates, but does not include ages. He did not know they were elderly.”

In sentencing Llewellyn, who now plays cricket for Uphill Castle Cricket Club in Weston, to three years behind bars, Judge Julian Lambert said: “You have a previous good character but committed a wicked conspiracy with no regard to human decency.

“You went and defiled people’s homes.

“The sadness of this case on top of the wicked harm that has been done is that you were a decent and honest man.

“You have been a great sportsman and I can’t believe you let leave of your senses.”