Three jailed for £137,000 watch robbery in Mayfair

Three men have been jailed for their part in the theft of a £137,000 watch from a Romanian businessman in Mayfair. Younes Djoudi, Ali Eldahouzze and Abdel El Habchi were convicted at Southwark Crown Court of robbing the man of his diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch. The incident occurred on 28 January, shortly before midnight, as the victim left the Amazonico restaurant in Berkeley Square.

Wider Context of Watch Robberies

The Metropolitan Police stated that an average of £1m worth of watches are stolen from people's wrists in London's West End every month. Between January and June, there were 97 watch robberies, including attempted incidents, across Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham. A further 70 watches were stolen in these areas between July and September. Detective Sergeant Andy Swindells noted that high-value watch robbery remains a significant issue in the West End, despite police efforts. He also reported that a knife had been seen or implied in a fifth of watch robberies over the preceding six months, with many victims sustaining injuries from being punched and kicked.

Mayfair and Knightsbridge were identified as specific hotspots for watch-only thefts. Approximately a third of these robberies took place in areas associated with the West End's night-time economy. The victim, Catalin Botezatu, described how he was pushed into a fence and restrained by the attackers as he stood near his car with a friend. He told jurors he feared for his life due to previous health issues, including cancer surgery and the fitting of five stents. He expressed disbelief that such an event could occur in London, particularly outside a high-end restaurant where he was a patron.

During the trial, the court heard that a sharp implement was used to cut through the watch's rubber strap, causing cuts to Mr Botezatu's wrists. The stolen Richard Mille watch, which was a gift from a deceased friend approximately 13 years prior, has not been recovered. Djoudi pleaded guilty to robbery. Eldahouzze and El Habchi denied the charge but were found guilty by a jury after a nine-day trial. El Habchi stated he had not anticipated a robbery, while Eldahouzze claimed Djoudi had threatened him with harm if he did not participate. Court documents revealed Djoudi has prior convictions for watch-related offences from 2014 and 2017. Messages found on Eldahouzze's phone included a photograph of the stolen watch.

Sentencing

The three men were due to be sentenced on Friday. The court heard evidence from prosecutor Arizuna Asante and victim Catalin Botezatu.