Former Strictly Come Dancing finalist Layton Williams has issued a stark warning to the public after surviving a terrifying attempted robbery in the heart of London. The actor and performer shared details of the late-night incident, which saw two men try to steal from his car.
A Frightening Late-Night Encounter
The alarming event unfolded in the early hours of the morning, around 3am, after Williams had finished filming for a new project. The 31-year-old, known for Bad Education and West End roles, was helping a fellow cast member to her vehicle when he first sensed danger.
"I noticed this guy was watching me very closely," Williams explained in an Instagram video. "The way he was looking at me felt really fishy." After getting into the back of his pre-booked car, the situation escalated quickly.
The Distraction Tactic
As the driver approached, the same man came over, attempting to distract him. "He was saying, 'Excuse me, sir, you dropped something,' or that there was something under the wheel," Layton recalled. Sensing the ploy, the performer looked around and made a chilling discovery.
"I realised there were two of them. The other guy was crouched at the back of the boot, stopping it from closing and trying to lift it up to get inside," he said. The pair were working together in what appeared to be a coordinated theft attempt.
Confronting the Would-Be Thieves
Williams, who reached the Strictly final in 2023 with pro partner Nikita Kuzmin, did not stay silent. He immediately confronted the men, quipping, "Girl, not on my watch. You ain't taking my laptop."
He later reflected on the boldness of the criminals, noting that while his possessions were replaceable, their audacity was shocking. "You think you're just gonna open up the boot and run away with my things?" he said, also pointing out the items were heavy and impractical to carry quickly.
The star acknowledged that confronting them was potentially risky. "I know you should probably just stay put in those situations and just stay safe," he advised his followers, emphasising that personal safety should always come first.
Fan Support and Wider Context
Followers flooded his social media with messages of relief and support. One fan commented on the unsettling reality that "you aren't even safe when getting into a pre-booked car," while another thanked him for raising awareness, urging others to "always trust your gut."
This scare comes after an emotionally charged year for Williams, who in May appeared on BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? The programme revealed his Jamaican ancestors were enslaved as children, a discovery he described as profoundly moving.
The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the crime that can occur even in busy city centres. Layton Williams's decision to speak out highlights the importance of remaining alert, especially during late-night travel in urban areas like London.
