Brahim Keddad, 29, has been sentenced to two years and four months at Southwark Crown Court after admitting attempted robbery in Mayfair. The prolific thief attempted to snatch a rare Richard Mille watch valued at £250,000 from a Chinese visitor to London.
Caught in the act
Plain-clothed officers on proactive patrol spotted Keddad acting suspiciously on Jermyn Street at around 3.30pm on Friday, May 1. He crept up behind Sun Tao, grabbed his shoulder, and tried to wrestle the watch from his wrist. During the scuffle, Mr Tao was shoved and fell, sustaining injuries to his knee and arm.
Prosecutor Luka Staton said: “The defendant shouted words to the effect of ‘watch, give me your watch’, and he then pushed Mr Tao and had his hands on top of Mr Tao’s wrist, trying to remove the watch.” Mr Tao managed to break free and run away, but an officer in plain clothes quickly detained Keddad.
Rare timepiece
The watch was a Richard Mille RM 11-02 GMT Carbon Shanghai Limited Edition, one of just 30 made. Its lightweight carbon construction and Shanghai-specific design make it highly sought-after among collectors.
The court heard Mr Tao was left “anxious” after the incident, feeling “not so safe any more to walk around on his own.” Judge Nicholas Ainley said Mr Tao “must have been terrified by the suddenness of what happened to him, and the force used on him.”
Deportation likely
Keddad, a French national with more than 20 past convictions for theft and robbery, was told he must serve half his 28-month sentence and faces deportation. After his arrest, he said “I did it for my daughter,” with the court hearing he sent money back to France to his ex-wife and young daughter.
Detective Sergeant Andy Swindells, who led the investigation, said: “This case highlights the invaluable benefit of plain-clothed officers being on patrol. We were able to spot and arrest Keddad within minutes, returning the valuable watch to its owner and preventing others who live or visit in London from being victims.”
Crime down
The Met reports neighbourhood crime down by 14% in the past year, with watch theft falling by 50% in Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham in the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Theft from the person is down by 23% across London, and personal robbery by 11%.
