The keeper's Champions League shirt was stolen

Martin Roche, 26, of Brainerd Street, Tuebrook, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods at Wirral Magistrates' Court in July.

He was given a nine-month sentence, suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 120 hours community service.

Recorder Timothy King QC, at Liverpool Crown Court told Roche handling the goods was "a particularly mean matter."

The court heard Roche hoarded the goods stolen from the home of Mr Dudek - hero of the Reds' European Champions triumph in 2005 - after a break-in at the player's home in Caldy, Merseyside in June.

Your handling these goods in these circumstances was a particularly mean matter Recorder Timothy King

Roche claimed he was given them outside a pub in Liverpool not knowing they were stolen, and put them in a cupboard at his home, the court was told.

Police could not link him to the burglary, but he refuses to name the man who gave him the items.

More than 100 football jerseys were taken from the player's home, together with Dudek's 2005 Champions League final winners' medal, worth �15,000 and his shirt worn in the final, worth �3,000.

Jewellery, including a Gucci watch, a Sony camcorder and the player's Porsche Carrera was also taken.

Other items included medals from the Super Cup, Worthington Cup and goalkeeper gloves worn in World Cup games.

The "minimum valuation" of the goods stolen were at least �23,800, but not all the items were given valuations, the court heard.

Neil Bisarya, defending, said Roche was given the items by a man who said he had split from his girlfriend and needed space to store his property.

Previous conviction

He said Roche "panicked" and didn't go to police on finding the stolen football goods because he had a �90 parking fine outstanding. But Judge King interjected: "Are we meant to believe that?"

Roche, who has one previous conviction for a similar matter in 2003, previously worked in the Home Office as an admin officer, but now runs his own business.

Judge King added: "Your handling these goods in these circumstances was a particularly mean matter. Everybody knows that without handlers, burglary would not take place.

Other charges

"It is embarrassing when foreign footballers come to this country, make their home here and what do you do - burgle their properties."

Three other people, also from Liverpool, face charges in relation to the thefts.

Melanie Mackereth, 23, Rachel Mackereth, 26, and Colin Roberts, 32, appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court in July charged with handling stolen goods.