Three men have been jailed for their involvement in a £1.1 million jewellery shop robbery plot in south-west London.
The incident tragically led to the manager taking his own life the following day.
Kyle Mehmet, 40, Michael Holmes, 35, and Mannix Pedro, 38, were found guilty of conspiring to rob over 70 high-value watches from 247 Kettles in Richmond on 25 May 2024.
During the raid, 27-year-old Oliver White, the store’s manager, was tied up and put in a headlock.
Woolwich Crown Court on Friday sentenced Mehmet, of Rotherham, to 18 years, Holmes, of Sheffield, to 13 years, and Pedro, of Woking, to 20 years, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
During the men’s trials, jurors heard evidence of the detailed planning that conspirators had put into carrying out the robbery.
That included stealing a getaway car, obtaining cloned licence plates, having a changeover car ready and waiting at an agreed location, and contacting the watch shop under the pretences of making a purchase.
In a state of distress, Mr White tried to transfer £14,000 in savings to his bosses after the theft, prosecutors said.
Jurors heard he did not see “the risk or bad in anyone” and “showed real enthusiasm for his work at Kettles”.
But Mr White told his girlfriend he had been accused by a man “of not putting up enough of a fight”.
Not long after transferring the cash, he went missing and stopped replying to texts or calls. His body was found by a friend in a wooded area.
Paul Goddard, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The greed of these three men has had considerable, and tragic, consequences.
“Not only did the business they targeted suffer the loss of over one million pounds’ worth of stock, Oliver White, who was working at the premises, took his own life the following day as a direct result of the robbery.
“Our thoughts are with Oliver’s loved ones for the terrible loss they have suffered.
“Mannix Pedro was a key organiser of the robbery and afterwards helped to dispose of the haul.
“Meanwhile, Kyle Mehmet and another man carried the robbery out, stealing more than 70 watches and tying up Mr White, while Michael Holmes waited nearby.
“Mehmet, having made good his escape in a stolen car, then met with Pedro and Holmes, before they travelled together to Colchester.
“This was a complex and difficult case, but by carefully putting all of the evidence together, prosecutors were able to build a comprehensive picture of each defendant’s involvement and present a compelling case, ultimately leading to their convictions.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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