Welsh internet personality Ben Phillips has described the terrifying ordeal of being held at gunpoint during a £1.4 million robbery while staying at a luxury villa in Cannes, France. The 33-year-old YouTuber, originally from Bridgend and now living in Cowbridge, was on a birthday trip with his girlfriend Lowri Clark and friends Ciara Bowden, Bailey Knight, and Sezza Anthony.
The Incident
On the second night of the trip, June 2, Phillips decided to stay in while the rest of the group went out for dinner. Around 11:30 pm, he heard a noise and initially thought it might be a cleaner. Realizing it was unlikely, he called his friend Bailey, saying, 'I think someone is upstairs, and if the phone drops, someone is here.' Peering through the bedroom door, he saw five armed robbers on the stairs. They rushed toward him, and he slammed the door shut, but they forced it open, with one intruder pointing a gun at his face.
Phillips was forced to the floor and onto his knees. The intruders demanded money, cash, and valuables, repeatedly asking, 'Where's the Rolex? Where's Richard Mille? Where's Cartier?' He explained he was a tourist and didn't know where items were kept. The robbers ransacked his and his girlfriend's belongings, stealing luxury jewelry, watches, and Louis Vuitton luggage. They also discovered a locked room containing the villa owners' valuables, escalating the total stolen to an estimated £1.4 to £1.5 million.
Gunpoint and Escape
During the ordeal, one robber counted down in French while demanding Phillips remove his Cartier bangle and Rolex watches. As the robbers prepared to leave, one instructed Phillips to put a dress over his head and turn around. When he refused, the robber aimed the gun at him, but it jammed. Phillips knocked the gun away and ran to the bathroom, where he held the door shut as the robbers tried to break in. He shouted 'Police, police, police,' causing the intruders to flee.
After the robbers left, Phillips' friend Bailey arrived. They called the police, and about 50 armed French officers responded, collecting evidence and forensics. The next day, police informed Phillips that two suspects had been caught via CCTV. The intruders had climbed a four-meter wall to enter the property. Police later recovered the guns, classified as Berettas.
Aftermath
Phillips lost three Rolex watches, Cartier bangles, Cartier rings, and Louis Vuitton items, valued at £500,000. The villa owners lost items totaling £1.4 million. His passport was stolen, delaying his return by a week, but he obtained an emergency passport. His parents flew to France to support him.
Describing his recovery, Phillips said, 'Shocked is an understatement. Speechless is the best way to describe it. I'm quite taken aback by it all.' He added, 'I'm staying at a hotel now but I can't sleep. Every noise makes me think someone is about to come through the door and shoot me.' He emphasized the need for vigilance, stating, 'I understand how privileged my life is, but I still want to raise awareness that this can happen.'
The National Police of the Alpes Maritimes reported that three individuals with concealed faces entered the villa around 11:15 pm. A man suspected of receiving stolen goods was arrested, and five people were placed in pre-trial detention pending trial.
