A man accused of robbing David Cameron’s father-in-law on the grounds of his stately home appeared in court today to be told he could face up to three years in prison.
Antony Wilks, 25, from Ealand, near Crowle in North Lincolnshire, is alleged to have gained access to the estate in Flixborough earlier this year and wrestled Sir Reginald Sheffield’s iPhone from his hand on April 14.
He appeared at Grimsby Crown Court, via video link from HMP Hull, charged with robbing Sir Reginald, the father of Samantha Cameron, as he sat in his car on his 300 acre estate during lockdown.
Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said Sir Reginald approached the defendant, who was 24 at the time, and a number of other men after becoming aware of their presence.
Wilks is then accused of reaching into the car of his victim and snatching the iPhone 8 from his hand following a short struggle.
Antony Wilks (pictured), 25, from Ealand, near Crowle in North Lincolnshire, is alleged to have stolen the iPhone of David Cameron’s father-in-law
Sir Reginald Sheffield, 73, was sat in his car in this estate in Flixborough, North Lincolnshire, earlier this year when he was approached by Wilks
Mr Evans told the hearing, which was held digitally, that the defendant said, ‘I’ll have your phone, ta’ and called Sir Reginald a ‘daft c***’.
Wilks told the court he was anxious to enter a plea because of the amount of time he had already spent in custody.
He told the judge: ‘I do not want it adjourned again. It has taken enough time. I want to known when I am going home.’
The hearing was adjourned until Monday so he could see further legal advice and he was remanded in custody. He is expected to enter his plea on Monday.
During the proceedings, the judge was shown dash-cam footage filmed at the time and was also given the prosecution’s account of what happened.
Mr Evans said Wilks was arrested ‘within a short period of time’ after police followed a track and trace device installed on the phone.
The prosecutor also read excerpts from a victim impact statement, in which Sir Reginald said the incident had ‘depressed’ him and made him feel ‘anxious’.
He added he was ‘surprised someone would steal my mobile phone while I was minding my business in the middle of my farm’.
Prosecutors said it was a category of offence that could be punished by a higher end community order or up to three years in custody.
Sir Reginald, who was sat in his car on his 300 acre estate during lockdown when the incident took place, is the father of Samantha Cameron (pictured with David Cameron in 2018)
Sir Reginald was allegedly involved in a tussle with a man who stole his iPhone 8 after reaching into his car in the grounds of Normanby Hall near Flixborough outside Scunthorpe
After hearing the outline of the case defence barrister Gordon Stables asked the judge to indicate what length of sentence his client would get were he to plead guilty.
His Honour Judge John Thackray QC refused to offer any indication but did grant an adjournment for Wilks and Mr Stables to liaise.
He said: ‘The defendant must make his own decision. If he wants more time I’m willing to adjourn.’
Wilks will appear back before Grimsby Crown Court on July 20.
Father-of-five Sir Reginald’s, full name Reginald Adrian Berkeley Sheffield, has been the eighth baronet of Normanby in the County of Lincoln since 1977.
He was educated at Eton College, where his son-in-law David Cameron also went, and Samantha, 49, is the eldest daughter from his first marriage in 1969 to Viscountess Astor.
He has three children from his second marriage in 1977.
He was a Tory councillor on Humberside County Council from 1985 to 1993.
Normanby Hall is a Regency mansion set in an estate of 300 acres and the country park including a farming museum, stable yard cafe, woodland and a walled garden.