40 year old Kyle Mehmet, 35 year old Michael Holmes, and 38 year old Mannix Pedro have been found guilty of conspiring to rob 247 Kettles, a retail store specialising in high-value watches.

Today, Mehmet, Holmes and Pedro were sentenced to 18, 13, and 20 years, respectively.

During the trials, the jury heard evidence of the detailed planning the men had put into carrying out the robbery, including 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.

Detailed mobile phone analysis and vehicle telematics proved the movements, relationships and contact between key players, with the defendants each having a different and distinct role to play.

Mehmet was directly involved in the robbery at 247 Kettles on the 25th of May 2024.

He entered the premises with another man to meet with Oliver White, a member of staff who had prepared trays of watches for them to view for purchase.

In his statement to police in the aftermath of the robbery, Mr White explained that there was nothing to make him feel suspicious, until suddenly, the two men stood up from their chairs, with one grabbing Mr White and putting him in a headlock while his companion cleared the watches from their trays.

Holmes was at the premises two days before in an aborted robbery attempt. On the day of the robbery, he waited nearby before joining the robbers; he left London with them later that day.

Pedro played a key role in planning and executing the robbery, and in organising the robbers’ escape, and the disposal of the watches

When police examined Pedro’s phone, they found a list of watches matching those taken in the raid, and a copy of CCTV footage of the robbery taking place, which had been circulated by 24/7 Kettles owners in a watch trade group – indicating that he was fully aware of the robbery and looking out for it on social media.

As a result of the raid on 247 Kettles, Mr White took his own life the very next day.

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.”

Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “The CPS is working closely with the police to make sure organised crime groups are thwarted in their pursuit of high-value watches in London, with perpetrators brought to justice.

“We know watch thefts have been a stain on London’s community so today’s sentencing proves that we will do everything in our power to tackle this concerning trend.

“Anyone involved in similar criminal activity should take this as a warning that they will be caught and prosecuted with the full force of the law.”