An Irish billionaire's multi-million pound London residence was targeted by burglars on two separate occasions within a mere four-day span, with thieves making off with a vast haul of high-end watches, jewellery, designer apparel, and luxury handbags collectively valued at over one million pounds. The shocking details emerged during proceedings at Southwark Crown Court, which heard that Paul Coulson's £8.7 million townhouse in the exclusive Knightsbridge district, situated near the grounds of Buckingham Palace, suffered repeated break-ins in December 2025.
Double Burglary Unfolds Over Four Days
One of the perpetrators, 46-year-old Ali Lamnouar from Chelsea, was captured on closed-circuit television footage breaking into the opulent property on two distinct occasions while carrying large holdalls, allegedly to fill them with valuable items on December 5 of last year. Initially, Lamnouar faced charges for stealing all the missing goods from Mr Coulson's home, which were appraised at a staggering £1.25 million. However, investigators later determined that the residence had been burgled a second time just days after the initial incident, leading them to revise the charges to reflect the theft of jewellery, designer handbags, and clothing worth £163,835.
Guilty Plea and Previous Criminal Record
Lamnouar entered guilty pleas to two counts of burglary: one at Mr Coulson's prestigious address and another unrelated raid on a different London property where he stole valuables amounting to just under £50,000 while the owner was still present inside the home. Recorder Elliot Gold noted that Lamnouar was identified at Mr Coulson's house through CCTV evidence and digital data from his mobile phone that placed him in the vicinity. "Having visited it (the property), he returned into the view of the CCTV carrying large black holdalls with straps which he put on the pavement," Recorder Gold stated, adding that the surveillance footage clearly shows him entering the property on two separate occasions while carrying four holdalls.
During the initial hearing on February 20, the prosecution opened the case based on the premise that the stolen items were worth £1.25 million. As the hearing progressed, it became apparent that the address had likely been burgled twice between December 5 and 8. Mr Coulson, recognised as one of Ireland's wealthiest individuals with an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion (£2.1 billion) in 2021, is the founder of the Ardagh Group, a global packaging supplier. The stolen belongings, which were later recovered from Lamnouar's residence, included designer coats, dresses, and jackets, alongside handbags from prestigious brands such as Prada, Chanel, and YSL. One handbag alone was valued at £14,000, accompanied by a £4,500 Cartier love bracelet, pearl earrings, a necklace worth £23,500, and a ring appraised at £29,000.
Additional Burglary and Sentencing Adjournment
The court also heard that Lamnouar had broken into the other property while the owner was at home, managing to steal watches valued at £38,000 from a bedroom drawer along with approximately £10,000 in cash. The victim, who remained unnamed in court, experienced the "distress of his home having been entered while he was present," according to the judge. The victim subsequently needed to install additional security measures but expressed relief that no confrontation had occurred during the intrusion. Lamnouar was on bail for the first break-in when he executed the raid on Mr Coulson’s home. The judge revealed that Lamnouar already possesses a substantial criminal record, with 36 convictions for 76 offences, including a series of burglaries dating back to the 1990s.
Lamnouar has been remanded in custody pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for April 30. The judge agreed to adjourn the case until a comprehensive estimate of the total value of the stolen items is finalised, ensuring that all aspects of the thefts are thoroughly accounted for in the judicial process.
