Two men have been convicted in connection with the theft of a $170,000 (£137,000) watch that was cut from a fashion designer's wrist outside a Mayfair restaurant. Catalin Botezatu was accosted by three men near the Amazonico restaurant in London after leaving the establishment with a friend.
The prosecutor, Arizuna Asante, stated that Botezatu was smoking near his car when the attackers surrounded him and forcibly removed the watch from his left wrist. Evidence suggested a knife was used to cut the strap, as the victim sustained cuts on his wrist during the incident. Botezatu, who is from Bucharest, testified that he was pushed into a fence and restrained. He described one of the assailants as wielding a sharp instrument that was used to cut both the watch strap and his wrist.
Speaking from behind a screen, Botezatu told the court, "I couldn't believe that something like this could happen in London, in front of a luxury restaurant where I was a client." He expressed fear for his life, citing a previous cancer operation and the presence of five stents, noting that any significant blow or cut could have been fatal.
The convicted men's identities and the full details of their sentencing were not immediately available. The incident occurred at a location known for its luxury establishments, highlighting concerns about high-value thefts in the area.