The England team hotel was infiltrated by two of Britain's most
notorious pranksters last week, Sportsmail can reveal, leading to
concerns about the effectiveness of the FA's security
arrangements.
Prank outsiders: the Dunns attempt to crash the
third Ashes Test at Old Trafford in 2005
Questions will be asked about how Tommy Dunn and his son, also
named Tommy, were among three men who not only executed a secretly
filmed sting operation on John Terry but also gained access to an
accredited area of the hotel where players attend media
commitments.
Dressed in suits, the hoaxers spent much of Monday in and around
the grounds of the five-star Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire without
detection. The FA have been informed of their presence and will
explore the security breach.
Earlier this week, Fabio Capello and his staff were shocked to
discover that a meeting room they used in the build-up to the
friendly against Egypt last Wednesday was bugged. It is understood
a potentially embarrassing six-hour recording, which is now in the
hands of a national newspaper, was made. The FA are trying to
obtain a copy and their investigation has so far failed to uncover
the identity of the spies.
However, the presence of the pranksters will lead to further
questions for security chief and former police officer Ray
Whitworth and his team. The FA declined to comment last night.
Concerned: England manager Fabio Capello
Last Monday the Dunns and an associate waited for Terry to
alight from the team bus after training and asked him for an
autograph.
Dunn Jnr asked him to address it 'to Wayne' with a note saying
'sorry'. Terry obviously realised it was a reference to Wayne
Bridge and after a brief four-letter exchange wrote 'To Wayne, best
wishes'.
Stitch-up: Chelsea's under-fire skipper John Terry
signs an autograph for 'Wayne'
The recording of Terry quickly appeared on the internet.
Sportsmail contacted the FA yesterday to inform them that the Dunns
are best known as close associates of hoaxer Karl Power, who first
made headline news in April 2001 when he strolled on to the pitch
at Munich's Olympic Stadium and took up position alongside Andy
Cole for Manchester United's team photograph just before their
Champions League match against Bayern.
He's got the Power: Prankster Karl gives Roy Keane
and co a fright in Munich
In the past Dunn Snr has managed to gain access to a packed
Manchester United dressing room while carrying camera equipment,
and a limousine taking Sir Alex Ferguson away from a Champions
League match.
Who are you? Gary Neville attempts to give Power
his marching orders
Dunn Jnr is best known for joining Power on Centre Court at
Wimbledon before a Tim Henman match in July 2002. The pair played a
short game before leaving of their own accord because they ran out
of balls.
Game set and match: Dunn and Power put on a show
for the Centre Court crowd
Yesterday the Daily Mail spoke to Power and Dunn's wife at their
homes in Manchester. Mrs Dunn had no comment, but Power said:
'Tommy has pulled off a lot of stunts in the past but I didn't know
anything about the John Terry one.'
The FA have launched an investigation into last week's security
breach and were grateful for the information Sportsmail passed to
them yesterday.
Howzat! Power walks out to bat for England
The bugging is a serious breach of privacy laws, and FA lawyers
have so far been successful in stopping the contents of the tape
being published.
Yesterday they were still in discussions with the lawyers
representing a national newspaper in a bid to get a copy of the
recording.
In an interview in 2002, Power and Dunn Snr discussed their
various pranks. 'We grew up together,' Power says of Dunn. 'I've
known him since I was three weeks old... he's not changed.'
In 1999 Dunn followed United around Europe videoing the team.
'I'd just go to United games in Europe and end up in the changing
rooms while the players was in there,' he said.
Passing himself off as a journalist, he also gained access to
official Champions League press conferences and memorably asked
United's manager: 'Is it true you have been approached to manage
Manchester City, Mr Ferguson?' 'I think I started relaxing him in
press conferences,' said Dunn.
In Valencia, after a Champions League quarter-final clash, Dunn
followed Ferguson into the limo taking him away from the stadium.
'I just got in,' said Dunn. 'The security guy thought I was with
him.'
Dunn continued: 'So I'm in the limousine with him now. It's him,
me and the driver and his minder. He turned round and said, "What
are you doing?" So I said, "Can you give us a lift to town?" I
thought, I better be quiet, I've upset him here, but he broke the
ice with me. "Who d'you want in the semi-final?" and all that lot.
The other two guys couldn't speak English, so I was the logical
choice to speak to.'