An Algerian thief has admitted to stealing a handbag which contained a Fabergé egg and watch worth £2million.
Enzo Conticello, also known as Hakim Boudjenoune and thought to be from Algeria, swiped Rosie Dawson’s handbag in Soho on November 7, 2024.
Ms Dawson’s purse contained ‘credit cards, a laptop, the Fabergé egg and a Fabergé watch, to the value of over £2.1m’ belonging to the Irish Craft Whiskey Company where she is the Director of Premium Brands.
The 29-year-old then used her credit card to buy himself a drink, cigarettes and other goods in a Co-Op and Nisa Local.
Judge Martin Griffith said it must have been ‘rather a surprise’ when he found the Fabergé products inside the handbag.
Both the Fabergé egg and watch remain missing and the Metropolitan Police have urged anyone with information relating to their whereabouts to come forward.
The thief was arrested by Met detectives in Belfast on January 26 this year.
He appeared at Southwark Crown Court today wearing a grey prison tracksuit and admitted theft and three counts of fraud by false representation.
Enzo Conticello (pictured), also known as Hakim Boudjenoune and thought to be from Algeria originally, swiped Rosie Dawson’s handbag at a Soho pub on November 7, 2024
Rosie Dawson (pictured) the Director of Premium Brands at the Irish Craft Whiskey Company, had ‘credit cards, a laptop, the Fabergé egg and a Fabergé watch, to the value of over £2.1m’ inside her stolen purse
A file image of a Fabergé egg similar to the one Conticello stole from Ms Dawson. Both the Fabergé egg and watch remain missing and the Metropolitan Police have urged anyone with information about their whereabouts to come forward
Conticello did not enter a plea to a charge of concealing criminal property, namely the egg and watch.
There will be a further hearing on March 6.
Judge Martin Griffith told Conticello: ‘It must have been rather a surprise to you when you saw that egg, what you did with it I don’t know at the moment.’
The court did not hear exactly how much the Faberge egg and watch are worth, but was told the items have a minimum value of $2.8million (£2.1million).
The judge said he wants to be ‘certain’ of the jewellery’s value, adding: ‘Unfortunately, you can’t ask Mr Fabergé, can you?’
Conticello appeared in the dock wearing a grey prison tracksuit.
He remains remanded in custody.
Charles Fabergé was a Russian goldsmith and jeweller, best known for creating Fabergé eggs made in the style of genuine Easter eggs using precious metals and gemstones. He was one of the sons of Gustav Fabergé, the founder of the House of Fabergé.
The Irish Craft Whiskey Company has a partnership with Fabergé and together produced a bottle of ‘Emerald Isle’ whiskey which sold for $2.8million at auction making it the world’s most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold.