CCTV shows moment thugs armed with stun gun steal £100,000 Rolex off tourist in Chelsea

William Mata13 October 2022
WEST END FINAL

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This is the moment a gang attacked three American tourists in Chelsea with a knife and stun gun - stealing a £100,000 Rolex watch.

CCTV footage shows the brutal attack which has resulted in the convictions of three men.

The tourists were confronted by the group, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, just after midnight on November 16 last year in Pavilion Road, Chelsea.

One of the victims, aged 31, was pushed to the ground and hit from behind by a stun gun. The suspects surrounded him and demanded he hand over his Rolex watch, worth around £100,000.

His father was threatened with a knife, which cut through his coat but did not cause injury, as he tried to stop the attack.

Their friend was also threatened with a stun gun and forced to hand over her watch, worth around £200.

The suspects then got into a waiting car, a stolen Jaguar F-PACE with fake number plates, which sped off.

Thomas Lenaghan, John Stovell and Ronnie Fitzgerald were all convicted
Met Police

A joint investigation by the Met’s Flying Squad and Westminster Robbery Squad was able to track down the three suspects after they identified the Jaguar by a giveaway small sticker - a parking permit for a school.

“This was the breakthrough moment the team had been looking for,” police said. “It allowed them to discover the car’s true identity. From there, they were able to work out where the car had been prior to and after the robbery and explore further CCTV opportunities, leading to footage capturing the robbers meeting without masks.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Owain Richards said: “Over the last few months we have been focusing our resources in hot spot areas where we know watch robberies have increased.

The car used in the offence
Met Police

“Our dedicated robbery team are tirelessly tracking down those responsible for these kind of crimes and we hope this case demonstrates that anyone committing these offences will be identified and brought to justice.”

On Wednesday, October 5 at Isleworth Crown Court, Thomas Lenaghan, 23 and Ronnie Fitzgerald, 20, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob, threatening a person with a bladed article in a public place, possession of a stun gun and threatening a person with a stun gun.

John Stovell, 50, pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and assisting an offender.

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