Txomin Huare-Place, 31, has been jailed for two years and nine months for robbing a Canadian tourist of a Patek Philippe watch valued at £65,000. The incident occurred as the victim, coffee house owner Axel Schwan, visited Wimbledon.
Huare-Place, described as a serial watch thief and a member of the "Rolex Ripper" gangs that target tourists in London, ripped the timepiece from Mr. Schwan's wrist near Sotheby's in New Bond Street. The theft happened quickly, leaving Mr. Schwan in pain and disoriented. CCTV footage showed Huare-Place loitering and communicating with two other individuals before approaching the victim and forcibly taking the watch.
Mr. Schwan attempted to chase the thief, but fell as Huare-Place escaped on a bicycle with accomplices. The victim, who was in London with his wife for the Wimbledon finals and a shopping trip, stated that the robbery had profoundly affected him emotionally. "What was supposed to be a lovely day turned into a nightmare and cast a shadow over the trip," he said in a victim impact statement.
The stolen watch, an Aquanaut Travel model, was reportedly purchased for £28,000 by Mr. Schwan but has since become a discontinued model valued at £65,000, making it difficult to replace. Mr. Schwan noted the financial strain and lingering fears for his security following the incident.
Huare-Place admitted to one count of robbery. He was already serving a six-year sentence for a series of other robberies, including targeting passengers exiting black cabs. He was arrested and interviewed at HMP Wandsworth, where he provided no comment to police. His previous convictions include theft from a person and similar watch robberies in the preceding year.
During sentencing at Southwark Crown Court, Huare-Place appeared with an Arabic interpreter. His defense lawyer conveyed his client's remorse and apology to Mr. Schwan. The defense also mentioned Huare-Place's eligibility for early removal from the UK to Algeria, noting that his deportation could help alleviate prison capacity issues.
Judge Timothy Moloney KC acknowledged the high value of the targeted goods and the element of planning involved. He ordered Huare-Place's new sentence to be served consecutively to his existing six-year term, taking into account the totality of his crimes. Another individual, Ahmed Djidi, 27, received a 22-month sentence for his role in the theft of Mr. Schwan's watch.