BBC star not feels protected in London after robbers nicked his £7,000 Rolex

The presenter and a friend were targeted for their expensive watches by a gang of six men as they left a high-end restaurant last year

View Image

BBC Breakfast star Ben Thompson says he no longer feels safe in London after he was robbed for his £7,000 Rolex.

Mr Thompson, 45, was on his way home from a restaurant in swanky Mayfair, central London, when he and a friend were set upon by six men.

The telly host had his watch ripped from his wrist during the brutal assault – leaving a scar in the process.

Meanwhile his pal, Roja Dove was thrust to the ground before the gang also snatched his £150,000 diamond-encrusted Patek Philippe watch.

Mr Thompson was then grabbed by three others before the attackers fled on March 11th last year.

He told a court in a victim impact statement after the gang were jailed this week: “After this attack my behaviour has changed – I no longer feel safe in London.

“I am nervous and jumpy when I hear a jogger or cyclist approaching behind me.”

After the robbery the former Middle East correspondent suffered from flashbacks at night and constant anxiety and stress.

The specially engraved watch had been a gift from his partner, Andy Roche to celebrate him turning 40.

The Old Bailey heard the pair were watched leaving Cecconi’s restaurant in Burlington Gardens, by a ‘spotter’.

Defendants Hocine Boulanouar, 26, and Danis Tom-Deter, 36, were later identified from CCTV.

Mr Dove, 69, who runs luxury perfume house Roja London, added: “I have worked hard for everything I have.

“The watch was a present to myself when I reached the age of 65. The theft of the watch has meant all my hard work has been pointless.”

He also said that the robbery had made him question his safety in the capital.

He added: “I feel like my day-to-day behaviour has completely altered, especially when I am in London.

“When I walk through the streets of central London, I feel like I am on high alert and I am very nervous. I feel very unsafe in London, a city I have loved my entire life.”

Boulanouar had previously been caged for five months for street theft and was in breach of a six-month suspended sentence when he targeted the BBC presenter.

The judge, Mr Recorder Jeremy Benson, jailed Boulanouar for four years and three months.

He had denied the two charges of robbery and claimed he was nowhere near the scene even though he was seen on CCTV.

Tom-Deter admitted both offences was sentenced to two years and nine months.

The judge said: “This was clearly a very frightening experience on the streets of central London at night.

“They were set upon and each man was held while their watches were dragged off their wrists.”