Petra Ecclestone selling mansion: Formula One heiress's Chelsea super home on market after sister Tamara burgled

Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone has put her Chelsea mansion up for sale days after her sister Tamara’s home in Kensington was raided and an estimated £50 million of jewellery stolen.

The Standard understands that the philanthropist and socialite is asking more than £100 million for the 14-bedroom house, which she bought in 2012 to move into with her then fiancé, businessman James Stunt.

The 31-year-old mother of three is thought to have paid previous owner, Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, about £60 million for the home and then spent an estimated £25 million on a refurbishment.

However, she quit the capital for Los Angeles last year after an acrimonious divorce from Mr Stunt and now rarely visits London — usually to see her father, motor racing billionaire Bernie Ecclestone.

At the time she left, Ms Ecclestone said she no longer felt safe walking around Chelsea because of the number of attacks and robberies. In 2016 a youth threw a petrol bomb into her driveway.

Tamara’s house in Kensington Palace Gardens was burgled at about 11pm on Friday, hours after she left with husband Jay Rutland and their daughter Sophia, five, for a Christmas trip to Lapland.

Thieves are said to have taken jewellery including an £80,000 Cartier bangle wedding present. Mr Ecclestone, 89, suggested the raid could have been “an inside job”.

Detective Sergeant Matthew Pountney said: “At this time we are investigating this as an isolated burglary and are retaining an open mind around other lines of inquiry… Police were called by security within the building to three males who had been present inside the property and a fast-paced investigation is under way.”

Sale details from agents Savills show only exteriors of Petra’s home, part of which is a Grade II listed residence built in the late 18th century.

It is understood to have one of the biggest private basement swimming pools in central London, a huge children’s play area, a cinema and a beauty salon. There is also an underground car park that was designed for Mr Stunt’s supercars.

The agents describe the property as “offering classic contemporary style behind the traditional façade”.

Ms Ecclestone, who is expecting her fourth child with vintage car salesman Sam Palmer, sold her home in Los Angeles for £95 million in July. She now lives in a smaller property in Brentwood, an LA suburb.

A spokeswoman for Ms Ecclestone would not comment on the sale. No one at Savills was prepared to comment.