Career criminal who swiped £250k from Jenson Button’s wife is jailed after CCTV showed shocking heist
A CAREER criminal who swiped £250,000 from Jenson Button’s wife has been jailed after the terrifying heist was caught on camera.
Mourad Aid, 41, stole Brittny’s carry-on, which contained lavish jewellery and designer handbags, from St Pancras station.
Footage showed Formula One driver Button stood with his back turned as he helped a chauffeur load his belongings into a vehicle.
Aid was then filmed running through the busy station and past the British Library while wheeling the red suitcase.
He has now been two years and four months after pleading guilty to theft at Westminster Magistrates’ court.
The Algerian national will be automatically deported once he has served his sentence, Mail Online reports.
Brittny revealed the bag had more than £250,000 worth of items, including countless sentimental objects and antique jewellery from her wedding and the birth of her daughter.
The suitcase also contained two Kelly bags, which together are worth a whopping £70,000.
Ex-Playboy model Brittny said she would normally not carry such sentimental items but was travelling for a Valentine’s trip to Paris.
Many of the stolen goods were listed online following the theft – although these were later tracked down.
Brittny, now an interior designer, says the experience left her “traumatised” and cast a dark cloud over their getaway.
She also revealed the couple have “no interest” in flying back to the UK from California, where they currently live.
The mum added: “It definitely was shocking that I just didn’t think.
“I’m normally pretty cautious when I’m out in public and travelling, but I just didn’t think that there were gangs literally just waiting for people and watching.”
Aid was arrested by plain clothes officers on February 17 – four days after the couple were targeted.
British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Marc Farmer said: “This was a brazen and opportunistic theft by a man who took advantage of the victim and her husband having their backs turned for a matter of seconds while loading up their car with luggage.
“He was able to quickly swipe the suitcase without them even noticing, which hammers home just how sneaky these sorts of criminals really are and why it’s so important to keep one eye on your belongings at all times.
“While the incident wasn’t captured on CCTV, we were still able to trace Aid through other investigative opportunities, and he was arrested by our plain clothes officers just days later.”