Beckham housekeepers' son held over 'eBay theft'

Police investigating allegations that property was stolen from Victoria and David Beckham's home and offered for sale on eBay arrested the son of the couple's housekeepers, sources said today.

Gareth Emmett, 25, was detained by police yesterday evening in Essex and released on bail to appear at a police station next month.

It follows the earlier arrest of his parents Eric and June Emmett, the Beckhams' housekeepers.

Hertfordshire Police said in a statement today: "Three people have been arrested over the theft. A 56-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man from Essex were arrested in Essex on Friday.

"A 25-year-old man from Essex was arrested yesterday evening. He has been bailed to a police station in Hertfordshire in November."

Suspicions were raised when memorabilia belonging to the former England captain and his pop star wife apparently appeared on the eBay auction site.

Former Spice Girl Victoria's parents, Tony and Jackie Adams, reportedly spotted some of their daughter's designer clothes on offer to bidders, along with the footballer's worn boots, and then discovered the items were missing from the couple's Rowneybury House mansion in Hertfordshire.

The Emmetts dismissed the allegations at their home in Nazeing, near Waltham Abbey, this morning.

Speaking at the large detached home in a leafy part of the Essex village on the edge of London, Mr Emmett initially said: "No comment", but added: "What is in the papers is fabricated nonsense. Totally fabricated, 99 per cent of it is totally untrue."

On his Facebook page, Mr Emmett describes himself as an "ageing hippy", saying "Smoked it, swallowed it, never regretted it. (In my former life.)"

He lists some of his favourite activities as: "buying Porsche 911s" and "LOADS of retail therapy. Addicted to shoes!!!".

The Emmetts were bailed to return to Hoddesdon police station on 22 November.

Victoria's parents live just 10 miles away from their daughter's housekeeper in Waltham Cross.

The large Tudor-style residence lies within gated grounds complete with clocktower above the garage.

A fleet of expensive cars was parked outside the house, including a Range Rover, Mercedes, a sportscar and new Mini.

A woman who answered the couple's intercom said no-one at the house would be making a comment.

A spokeswoman for eBay said they were still trying to establish with Hertfordshire Police which items were involved in the allegations.

Items auctioned on the website have a clear paper trail back to the seller, she said, making it very difficult to get away with selling stolen goods.

"Anyone stupid enough to try to sell anything that is not 100 per cent legitimate makes a big mistake when they try to do it on our site," she added.

A spokesman for the Beckhams said: "There has been an incident and the matter is in the hands of the police.

"I cannot comment any further."

The items reportedly offered on eBay included football boots emblazoned with the names of the couple's three sons - Brooklyn, Cruz and Romeo.

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Beckham, 33, moved to Los Angeles with his wife and the boys last year in a blaze of publicity.

The couple now divide their time between LA and Rowneybury House - nicknamed "Beckingham Palace".

The mansion was the venue for the Beckhams' famous party for charity ahead of the 2006 World Cup.