Exclusive: Former Rangers star Michael Ball hires gangster firm to protect home

Jul 27 2008 By Norman Silvester

FORMER Rangers player Michael Ball has hired a gangster security firm to protect his £545,000 villa after a spate of break-ins and vandalism.

The boarded-up property in Glasgow's west end - empty for three years since the Manchester City player left Rangers - is guarded by extortion racket thug Lewis "Scooby" Rodden, 47.

Ball, 28, pays around £800 a week to P&B Security - fronted by Rodden's sons Paul and Barry - to look after the five-bedroom pad.

Rodden and three security firm pals were jailed three years ago for offences including assault, fire-raising, intimidation and possessing offensive weapons.

He was out after a year having appealed his four-year term.

Rodden then got his sons to front his Kirkintilloch-based firm, so he could get a Security Industry Authority licence.

Rodden was shot seven years ago while in Holland for a Celtic match after a split from Bobby Dempster of Ruchill Security.

Last year Ball sued after the home he moved into in 2002 with wife Amanda and their two kids subsided. But the action ended when the builder went bust.

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