Rock star Noel Gallagher, the famed Oasis guitarist and songwriter, became the victim of a frightening mugging on a London street, a court has heard. The shocking incident saw the music icon assaulted and robbed of his luxury timepiece in a brazen daylight attack.
The Attack: A Terrifying Ordeal in North London
The court was told that the 56-year-old musician was walking in the affluent area of East Finchley on the evening of 21st June last year when he was suddenly set upon. His assailant, 47-year-old Michael Peyton, accosted Gallagher, demanding he hand over his watch.
In a statement read to Harrow Crown Court, Gallagher described the moment Peyton became aggressive. "He said, 'Give me your watch'," the star recounted. "I thought he was joking at first. I said, 'No, go away'." The situation quickly escalated from a bizarre encounter into a terrifying physical assault.
Violent Escalation & The Aftermath
When Gallagher refused to comply, Peyton allegedly punched the musician in the ribs with such force that it caused him to stumble backwards. Seizing the opportunity, the attacker then forcibly ripped the valuable watch from Gallagher's wrist before fleeing the scene.
The Oasis star emphasised the traumatic nature of the event in his victim impact statement. "I was shaken after this took place," he said. "You don't expect something like this to happen right on your doorstep at 6pm in the evening." The violation of being attacked so close to his home added a layer of personal distress to the criminal act.
Justice Served at Harrow Crown Court
Michael Peyton of Hornsey, north London, appeared before Recorder David Mayall at Harrow Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. The court heard that Peyton had specifically targeted Gallagher for his high-value watch.
In addition to the robbery charge, Peyton also admitted to separate offences including handling stolen goods and fraudulently using a credit card. These additional crimes painted a picture of a prolific offender, influencing the court's final decision.
The judge sentenced Peyton to 28 months imprisonment for the robbery of Noel Gallagher. This sentence will run concurrently with an 18-month term for the other offences, resulting in a total custodial sentence of just over two years.
This case highlights the disturbing reality that even high-profile celebrities are not immune to the street crime that occasionally pliques the capital's neighbourhoods, even in its more affluent areas.
