A MOPED robber who was part of a ‘brazen’ six-strong armed gang that targeted a jewellers in London’s Regent Street has been jailed for eight years.
Jamie Farrell, 31, of Havelock Street, Islington, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, July 9 after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
Farrell was one of a group of six men on three mopeds and a motorbike who targeted Watches of Switzerland on June 5, making off with 30 Rolex watches valued at £440,000.
Sledgehammers
Striking at 10.20am, the gang drove one of the mopeds through the doors of the premises, preventing them from being closed by security staff.
Three men wearing black crash helmets entered the store and used sledgehammers to smash display cases containing Rolex watches.
The other three men, including one on a high-powered motorbike, remained outside armed with knives to ward off security staff and members of the public.
Five display cabinets were attacked and 30 Rolex watches were stolen, worth £440,000.
The robbers fled in different directions after the internal security smoke alarm was activated.
Pursuit
A passing police unit gave chase and Farrell was detained by police officers in nearby Heddon Street.
He had abandoned various items including a pair of gloves, a crash helmet and a bag containing 11 watches, however these were recovered and forensic analysis of the watches and gloves revealed traces of Farrell’s blood.
Police later recovered a further six Rolex watches from an address in Islington, near to where a moped had been abandoned, in total recovering £309,350 of the store’s property.
Brazen
Detective Constable Phelim Redmond, of the Met’s Flying Squad, said: “Farrell was among a group of men who carried out a brazen robbery at a jewellers in the centre of London.
“I would like to thank the members of the public who helped identify Farrell and the items of clothing and stolen goods he had discarded as he fled the scene.
“Officers have recovered 17 out of the 29 watches stolen, worth more than £300,000. However, the damage to the store, including the cabinets destroyed is estimated to be in the region of £100,000.
“The Met is committed to disrupting and detaining anyone involved in moped crimes. The investigation is still ongoing in this case to identify and arrest the other five men involved in this crime.”
