Moment granddad fights off muggers with a takeaway kebab as they try to steal £18k Rolex off his wrist in broad daylight
THIS is the moment a granddad fights off a pair of muggers with a takeaway kebab as they try to steal his £18,500 Rolex.
The shocking footage shows Christopher Harris being targeted for his Rolex Yacht-Master in Paddington, west London.
He was staying at an Airbnb with his wife and granddaughter at the time.
As he attempts to enter a door in Bouverie Place in broad daylight a man in a cap approaches and tries to snatch the watch from his wrist.
He immediately defends himself by swinging his takeaway bag at the thief – while another thief watches in the wings before also trying to get involved.
The plastic bag, containing the kebab, drops to the ground and Mr Harris eventually frees himself from the scuffle with his cuff undone as the thieves flee.
A group of people outside a nearby restaurant can be seen watching the incident – which lasts around 30 seconds – from afar.
Mr Harris was followed by Amine Bentaib, 30, and Rayan Belhadj to his front door after going out to collect a meal from the Queen of Sheba restaurant on July 8 last year.
Prosecutor Allison Summers KC told the court that Bentaib was been being pursued for deportation since September 20 2022.
“That did not take effect,” she said.
Judge Adam Hiddleston jailed Bentaib for 45 months, adding that he “will qualify as a foreign criminal and be subject to automatic deportation”.
He said Bentaib had an “utter lack of respect for the law” as he was previously jailed for two-and-a-half years for an attempt to steal a £1 million Rolex watch.
The judge said: “On 8 July 2023, a visitor to London – Mr Harris – returned to the airbnb property in Bouverie Place he was staying at together with his wife and granddaughter.
“Those two went inside while Mr Harris went to a local restaurant in order to buy some food to take out.
“You were in the locality together with another man…he has in fact been sentenced already for this offence.
“For some reason you take an interest in Mr Harris, presumably because you saw or because someone told you that he appeared to be wearing an expensive watch.
“I was shown and watched with care the CCTV recording of this incident, and it is clear from what I saw that you were aware of what you were expecting to steal – and that was in fact a Rolex watch.
“You patiently waited and watched whilst Mr Harris was inside the restaurant, when he emerged you followed him to the door to his flat.”
Bentaib then “attacked” the victim, the judge said.
“Luckily, the two of you were resisted by Mr Harris who bravely fought back, using his takeaway bag to fend you off.
“He got the better of both of you – you failed to get the watch off his wrist and then you made off.”
The court heard the judge refer to these types of offences as an “absolute scourge”.
He got the better of both of you – you failed to get the watch off his wrist and then you made off.
Judge Hiddleston
Judge Hiddleston added: “Robbery of such high value items has become an absolute scourge in London, effecting not just those who live here but also visitors to the capital.
“I was told between June 2022 and May 2023 there were some 1134 such watch robberies.
“This kind of offence seems to be increasing and obviously attracts people like you, who think it is a way of making easy money no matter what the effect might be on the wellbeing of innocent members of the public, or indeed on the overall effect it has for the feeling of safety and security that all citizens are entitled to expect as they walk the streets.
“The message has to go out that those like you who think this is easy will find that offences of this kind result ordinarily in lengthy prison sentences.
“Of course you know that a prison sentence will follow because this is the second time in as many years that you have been caught doing this.”
SENTENCING
Bentaib was sentenced to 45 months in prison for a “planned attack” that “demonstrated an utter lack of respect for the law or the effect your offending has on others”.
The judge added: “Whilst I think it is unlikely you will be released before being deported, should any circumstances arise by which in the future you are at liberty on the streets of London, any measures that can be put in place to prevent further offending should in my judgement be deployed.”
The 30-year-old was also made subject to a criminal behaviour order.
Bentaib, of Basildon, Essex, admitted one count of attempted robbery.
Wearing a prison issue grey tracksuit, Bentaib showed no emotion as he was sentenced.
He was aided in the dock by an Arabic interpreter and is thought to come from Algeria but his nationality was not given in court.
Belhadj is already serving a three-year prison sentence for the crime.
DC Alex Earley, from the Met police who led this investigation, said: “The sentences handed down today will ultimately make London a safer place for everyone as these men will now serve time behind bars for their actions.
“During this Met investigation we watched hours of CCTV from different angles. It showed that Belhadj and Bentaib stalked and targeted the victim, carrying out this appalling incident in broad daylight.
“They had absolutely no regard for the victim and did not consider the lasting impact their robberies would have on him. I commend the victim for their bravery in coming forward.
“This case shows the importance of reporting a robbery as soon as it happens.
“I urge anyone who may sadly be the victim of a similar incident, or sees a robbery taking place, to call the police by dialling 999 immediately.
“This makes a significant impact on our ability to catch those responsible and prevent them from causing any further harm.”