Tamara Ecclestone and husband kept £145,000 in cash at their mansion before home raid

FORMULA One heiress Tamara Ecclestone and husband Jay Rutland kept £145,000 in cash at their mansion, a court heard.

It was taken, along with rare items of jewellery, during a £25million raids spree on celebrities’ homes, it was said.

Sex worker Maria Mester, 47, posed for Facebook snaps wearing a necklace — one of only 15 made — and earrings owned by Ms Ecclestone and had them on when arrested at Stansted airport, the jury was told.

Mr Rutland, of Kensington, West London, recognised them immediately when he saw the images.

He told the police: "I can clearly see she is wearing my wife's distinctive rose gold/diamond Octopussy drop earrings and also a distinctive necklace that is identical in appearance to one I purchased for my wife, Tamara.

"The necklace has a line of various coloured precious stones that hang from the main neck chain. These items of jewellery are quite unique in design and I immediately recognised them as pieces stolen in the burglary."

The gang also targeted the homes of Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and TV presenter wife Christine and the late Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Homeless Mester and son Emile-Bogdan Savastru, 30, of Bethnal Green, East London, were filmed on CCTV before and after the Ecclestone burglary with alleged raiders Sorin Marcovici, 53, of Romford, East London and Alexandru Stan, 49, of Harrow, North London.

All deny involvement.

The trial continues at Isleworth crown court.

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