An Algerian thief who snatched a £37,000 watch from a wealthy tourist’s wrist as he left a high-end restaurant will be deported once he is released from jail.
Mohamed Sellaoui, 19, targeted chemistry professor Jiangfeng Ni for his Patek Phillipe timepiece in Mayfair on February 26, 2024.
Mr Ni, who works at Soochow University in China, told jurors he was approached by two men from behind as he left Langan’s Brasserie on Stratton Street.
He said he was ‘pushed into a corner’ and that one of the thieves tried to remove his watch from his left wrist.
Mr Ni said that once the pair had stolen his timepiece, they started running in the direction of Green Park station.
‘The person with my watch fell over… the watch was still in his hand,’ the professor told jurors at Southwark Crown Court with the aid of a Chinese interpreter.
‘I went to approach them but when I was bending down the person on my right swung a punch at me.
‘He was waving his fist and making “woo woo” noises.’
Mr Ni added: ‘He was trying to attack me and allow time for his companion to run away.’
Mohamed Sellaoui, 19, (pictured) targeted chemistry professor Jiangfeng Ni for his Patek Phillipe timepiece in Mayfair on February 26, 2024
Mr Ni, who works at Soochow University in China, told jurors he was approached by two men from behind as he left Langan’s Brasserie on Stratton Street (pictured)
Prosecutor Sue Obeney asked Mr Ni about how he felt about the assault.
He replied: ‘My mind went blank. In my head I had to ask myself: “What happened?”
Joshua Clements, defending Sellaoui, challenged the professor’s testimony, adding: ‘You got the two suspects mixed up, Mr Ni, you cannot be sure who is who.’
He said Mr Ni had ‘mistakenly added extra details’ not in his original police statement and claimed he took ‘nearly an hour’ during the identity parade.
He added: ‘You asked to see different images 15 times. The reality is, Mr Ni, after all of that, you could not have been sure who the suspect was.’
But the professor said he has ‘very good eyesight’ and took his time at the identity parade because he ‘wanted to make sure’.
Mr Ni added: ‘I was quite nervous at the time, but who pushed me, it was quite obvious. I remember it clearly.’
Sellaoui, aided by an Arabic interpreter, pleaded not guilty to robbery but was convicted by a jury of robbery after a three day trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Judge Gregory Perrins told the teenager: ‘Being in mind of your age at the time, I am going to order a pre-sentence report.
‘But in fairness, you should have absolutely no illusion that you will be sentenced, and then you will be deported.’
Mr Clements urged the judge to pass a suspended sentence, noting Sellaoui was only 17 at the time of the offence.
But the judge said: ‘How can I give a suspended sentence if he is here illegally?’
He remanded Sellaoui in custody ahead of sentencing on April 9.
Detective Constable Kira Halson, who led the Met Police’s investigation, said: ‘Tackling violent crime like this is a key priority for the Met.
‘We’ve set up local, proactive teams to deal with robberies as part of our New Met for London plan.
‘CCTV enquiries quickly identified Sellaoui as a suspect, with a local officer recognising him while on patrol and making the arrest.
‘Despite his young age, Sellaoui is a prolific offender and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to secure justice for the victim in this case.’