REVEALED: Pranksters got into England camp
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How did two of the most notorious pranksters in the country get into England's team hotel?
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.'