Tragic Consequences of a Multi-Million Pound Heist
A roofing contractor has testified at Woolwich Crown Court that he believed the £1.1 million robbery of a watch salesman was orchestrated as an inside job. Kyle Mehmet, 40, claimed his participation in the daring daylight theft at 247 Kettles in Kew Road, Richmond, on May 25 last year stemmed from owing £190,000 to organised criminals he referred to as 'the firm'.
The Fateful Day at the Jewellery Store
The court heard how Oliver White, 27, who was working alone in the jewellery store during the robbery, was physically restrained with cable ties and held in a headlock while the thieves stole luxury watches worth over £1 million. In an emotionally charged meeting the following day, store owners Joe Riley and Connor Thornton, along with businessman Fred Sines, confronted Mr White about his perceived lack of resistance during the incident.
Tragically, Mr White subsequently travelled to woods in Shepperton, Surrey, where he took his own life. This devastating outcome has cast a long shadow over the ongoing trial.
Inside Job Claims and Courtroom Testimony
Giving evidence, Mehmet described his specific role in the heist: 'My job was to be the muscle and (Kunu's) job was to take the watches and put them in the bag.' He insisted that the organisers had assured him the robbery was an inside job, eliminating any need for masks or genuine violence.
When questioned by his defence barrister Daniel Jones, KC, about why he restrained Mr White if he believed it was an inside job, Mehmet explained: 'I was told to make it look like a job.' He described the cable ties used as 'little flimsy ones', claiming 'I didn't want to hurt him, that was just for show.'
Mehmet told the court he had been convinced that CCTV footage of the robbery would be erased, making his identification impossible. His perspective changed dramatically when his face appeared across social media platforms following the incident. 'My chest went through my body,' he testified, 'because at that time, I'm not stupid, I've been set up, I knew exactly what had happened.'
Aftermath and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The fallout from the robbery extended beyond the courtroom. Mehmet revealed he learned that a £100,000 bounty had been placed on his head, prompting him to send his wife and children to Turkey for their safety.
Jurors have heard that businessman Mannix Pedro, 38, who helped plan the raid and supplied a stolen Audi used as the getaway car, has already been convicted of conspiracy to rob. Meanwhile, Fred Sines received a suspended sentence earlier this year for conspiracy to transfer criminal property related to a separate case involving a stolen gold toilet.
Junior Kunu, 31, of Mitcham, south London, Kyle Mehmet, of North Road, Rotherham, and Michael Holmes, 34, of Rainham, Essex, all continue to deny charges of conspiracy to rob. The trial at Woolwich Crown Court continues as the full story behind this tragic case unfolds.
