‘Rolex ripper’ who broke elbow stealing watch spared prison due to overcrowding

A ‘Rolex Ripper’ who broke his elbow trying to grab a £50,000 watch in Mayfair has walked free because of prison overcrowding.

Walid Raoul, 30, attempted to steal Mark Beard’s Patek Phillipe Blue World Time watch from his wrist on Grosvenor Street, London on 8 June 2024.

Mr Beard was walking back to the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, with his wife Annli when Raoul and another man pounced.

While Raoul tried to get the watch, a second man tried to get his gilet before breaking Mrs Beard’s finger trying to steal one her rings.

Raoul and Mr Beard fell to the ground and began wrestling on the floor before the thief managed to run away.

But he fell over with the watch in his hand and was physically restrained by Mr Beard and several nearby security guards.

Raoul has nine previous convictions for 14 offences – including a conspiracy to commit robbery conviction in 2013.

Prosecutor Matt Ward said: ‘On the afternoon of Saturday 8 June, Mr Beard and his wife Annli were walking along Grosvenor Street on their way back to The Connaught Hotel, where they were staying.

‘Initially, a man ran up towards Mr Beard and attempted to grab the gilet jacket he was wearing – however, he was unsuccessful.

‘Very shortly after, another man caught up to Mr Beard and tried to grab his watch off his wrist.

‘A physical struggle then ensued with the two men ending up on the ground before a second man came along and attempted to assist the assailant.’

Mr Ward added that Raoul was quickly ‘wrestled to the ground’ and ‘detained’.

He added: ‘Incidentally after he had initially run off, the second man appeared and then grabbed Mr Beard’s wife with his left hand and with one hand tried to grab off the rings she was wearing.

‘He did unfortunately manage to break one of her fingers.

‘The police were called to the scene and attended very shortly after and defendant was arrested and cautioned.

‘After being cautioned the defendant said words to the effect of ‘someone made me do it’.

Defending Raoul, Cassan Lindsay described the attempted watch-taking as a ‘scuffle and a couple of scratches.

‘Mr Raoul found himself going through what was clearly a very, very difficult time which resulted in a very, very poor decision.’

He added that it was the ‘failure’ of Raoul’s ‘car sales business’ that was the ‘driving force’ behind the robbery.

Mr Lindsay said that while being restrained on the ground, his client had been effectively ‘subject to a serious assault’.

‘When he was arrested he was taken to the hospital, there is evidence on his custody record that he suffered a broken elbow.

‘In the custody images one can see he is in a sling.

‘He was assaulted and I’m not going to go as far to say that was from the defendant – it may have been others who thought they were being heroic at the time.’

Sentencing Raoul, Mr Recorder Quintin Newcombe said: ‘On the afternoon of 8 June this year you committed a robbery against Mr Beard and his wife as they walked to their hotel in Mayfair together.

‘You and another male approached the couple – initially, Mr Beard was approached from behind in an attempt to take his gilet.

‘You then approached him and then struggled with him to remove his watch.’

Recorder Newcombe said that after going to ‘ground’, another man ‘assisted you, before you then managed to take the watch and the run away.

‘Seeing you attack her husband in this way undoubtedly caused Ms Beard some stress.’

He continued: ‘The watch was a valuable Patek Phillipe and I am in no doubt you knew exactly what you were doing and targeted Mr Beard due to the high value of the watch he was wearing at the time – estimated to have a value of some £50,000.

‘You were no doubt hoping to receive your share in the very substantial proceeds of selling the watch once you had stolen it.’

The court then heard Recorder Newcombe laud Mr Beard for his ‘brave actions’ in stopping Raoul from getting away.

He said: ‘Once you had taken the watch, Mr Beard ran after you, and as you ran away you fell to the ground.

‘You were injured when you were detained, it is not suggested the force used was anymore than reasonable in attempting to prevent your escape having committed a serious offence.

‘Due to his brave actions you were detained and the watch was recovered – it was broken and cost some £1,000 to repair.’

Addressing Raoul in the dock, he added: ‘You should feel great shame for the fact that in addition to his physical injuries, he has been caused to feel more nervous about attending social engagements in central London.’

The court heard Mr Newcombe say that this was a ‘group offence’ in which Raoul ‘deliberately sought to identify and target someone with highly valuable watch.’

‘You have no recognised qualifications and have been in work initially as a delivery driver, and then as a car salesman.

‘This progressed to you having your own dealership

‘You concede that the reason behind the offence was that your business was not doing well – in essence you committed the offence to seek more money than you were receiving in universal credit.’

Mr Recorder Newcombe told Raoul that ‘this offence is so serious’ that the ‘custody threshold has been passed’.

At this point, Raoul was seen blowing a kiss to his partner sat in the public gallery.

But he was given credit for his early guilty plea, the 30-year-old was given a suspended custodial sentence of 24 months in prison.

Justifying his decision to suspend the sentence, the judge said that ‘immediately custody would have a significant impact on your wife and young daughter.

‘It is also appropriate to take into account the current overcrowding of this country’s prisons.

‘Considerable yourself extremely fortunate to be walking out of court today.

‘Whilst you are seeking to reestablish your car salesman business, in those circumstances I make no order for costs or compensation.’

Raoul was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Walid Raoul, of Roch Avenue, Edgware, admitted one count of robbery.

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