Teen admits robbery after Westminster man has £25k Rolex watch stolen

A teenager has been sentenced after robbing a man of his £25,000 watch in Westminster late last year.

The 17-year-old pleaded guilty to robbery on Saturday at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court. He was sentenced to a Youth Offending Panel Referral Order for 10 months.

The plea followed a robbery that occurred at around 2.20pm on December 11 last year when a 54-year-old man was out walking his dog along Hereford Road, towards Talbot Road.

Two suspects, on a white moped, pulled up alongside the victim. The pillion passenger, who was not wearing a crash helmet, approached the victim on foot and said: “Are you alright mate?”

The second suspect, who was wearing a black motorcycle crash helmet, also got off the bike and grabbed the victim around the neck from behind, dragging him down on to the ground.

They then stole his Rolex watch worth £25,000. One of the suspects produced a knife during the attack.

The suspects rode off towards Chepstow Road. The victim went straight home and called police, giving them a description of the moped and suspects.

Officers from Operation Venice began an investigation and they identified the first suspect as a result of forensic evidence which had been found on the victim.

On February 1 he was arrested and interviewed. He was bailed to attend Islington police station on Friday, May 1, but he failed to do so.

He was later arrested at his home address and charged with robbery the same day.

The Rolex watch has not been recovered.

Detective Constable Mark Cooper, from Operation Venice, said: “This was a terrifying robbery by offenders who targeted their victim and threatened serious violence to rob him of his watch.

“Operation Venice teams are active across London every day, identifying criminals using mopeds to commit crime and keeping Londoners safe.”

The second suspect remains outstanding, anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101, quoting CAD 4324/11Dec19.