A grandfather valiantly fought off muggers by swinging bags of takeaway food as they tried to steal his £18,000 Rolex watch in central London.
Christopher Harris was chillingly targeted as he bought food from the Queen of Sheba restaurant in Paddington and carried it to the rented AirBnb property where he was staying with family.
Dramatic CCTV footage shows one of the thieves, Amine Bentaib, lurking outside the restaurant, watching and waiting for Mr Harris to emerge.
He was tailed back to the AirBnb, when Bentaib grabbed his wrist in a bid to steal his Rolex Yacht-Master watch worth £18,000.
Bentaib’s accomplice, Rayan Belhadj, joined in the prolonged struggle in the street as Mr Harris bravely fought back, using his bags of takeaway as a makeshift defence weapon.
Mr Harris’ shirt was torn in the scuffle, but the thieves ultimately left the scene empty handed, Southwark crown court heard.
On Monday, Bentaib was jailed for three years and nine months, while Belhadj is already serving a three-year prison sentence for the crime.
Judge Adam Hiddleston branded watch muggings “an absolute scourge on London”, and said Bentaib has a “utter lack of respect for the law” after previously being jailed for two-and-a-half years for an attempt to steal a £1 million Rolex watch.
“This kind of offence seems to be increasing, and obviously attracts people like you who think it’s a way of making easy money, no matter what the effect might be on the wellbeing of innocent members of the public”, said the judge.
“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.”
He said Mr Harris was left “extremely shaken” by the attack, and is now “apprehensive and anxious when outside”.
“Robbery of such high value items has become an absolute scourge on London”, added the judge.
The court heard Mr Harris was staying with his family at an AirBnb on Bouverie Place in Paddington when he was attacked, on July 8 last year.
Bentaib was seen on CCTV peering into the Queen of Sheba restaurant as Mr Harris ordered his food, and the robbery happened just outside the front door to the AirBnb nearby.
“For some reason you took an interest in Mr Harris, presumably because you saw, or someone told you, that he appeared to be wearing an expensive watch”, said the judge.
“Having patiently waited and watched while Mr Harris was inside the restaurant, when he emerged you followed him to the door of his AirBnb.
“Together with Mr Belhadj, you attacked him.
“The two of you were resisted by Mr Harris, who bravely fought back using the takeaway bag to fend you off.
“He got the better of the both of you. You failed to get the watch off his wrist and then you made off.”
Bentaib, of Waterville Drive, in Basildon, Essex, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He was jailed in 2020 for two-and-a-half years for the previous watch robbery bid.
The court heard Bentaib now faces deportation while in prison.
“Belhadj and Bentaib stalked and targeted the victim, carrying out this appalling incident in broad daylight”, said DC Alex Earley, who led the Met Police investigation.
“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.”
