Algerian thief sentenced to deportation after stealing £37,000 watch from Chinese professor
Mohamed Sellaoui, a 19-year-old Algerian, has been sentenced to deportation following his conviction for robbing a Chinese chemistry professor of a £37,000 timepiece during an incident at a Mayfair restaurant. The young offender, who was aided by an Arabic interpreter, denied the charges but was found guilty after a three-day trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The Heist in Mayfair
Jiangfeng Ni, a professor at Soochow University in China, recounted the attack to jurors during the trial. He described how two men approached him from behind as he exited Langan’s Brasserie on Stratton Street. According to his testimony, one of the thieves attempted to remove his Patek Philippe watch from his left wrist, while the other pushed him into a corner.
“The person with my watch fell over… the watch was still in his hand,” Ni said, emphasizing the clarity of the event through a Chinese interpreter. He added that the second suspect swung a punch at him as he tried to chase the thieves, shouting “woo woo” sounds before fleeing toward Green Park station.
Legal Challenges and Testimony
During the proceedings, defense lawyer Joshua Clements questioned the professor’s account. He argued that Ni had confused the suspects during the identity parade, adding unnecessary details not present in his initial police statement. Clements noted that the victim had spent nearly an hour examining different images, making certainty about the perpetrator questionable.
“You asked to see different images 15 times. After that, you could not have been sure who the suspect was,” Clements claimed, challenging the reliability of Ni’s testimony. However, the professor countered that his strong eyesight allowed him to distinguish the individuals clearly, despite the nervousness he felt during the identification process.
Deportation and Sentencing
Judge Gregory Perrins confirmed Sellaoui’s deportation after sentencing him to jail time. The judge stated that while the teenager’s age would be considered, the illegal status of the defendant made deportation a certainty. The ruling follows a pre-sentence report, with the judge stressing that the outcome was not a surprise.
Despite the defense’s plea for a suspended sentence, the judge ruled that Sellaoui’s unlawful presence in the UK meant a deferred penalty was not feasible. The teenager is now set for sentencing on April 9. Detective Constable Kira Halson, leading the Met Police investigation, praised the swift identification of Sellaoui via CCTV footage and a local officer’s recognition during a patrol. She highlighted the success of the New Met for London initiative in tackling violent crimes like this one.
