Illegal Immigrant Teenager Convicted for Violent Mayfair Watch Robbery
An illegal immigrant teenager has been convicted for stalking and violently attacking a wealthy tourist in London's exclusive Mayfair district to steal a luxury watch valued at £37,000. The assailant, Mohamed Sellaoui, a 17-year-old from Algeria, targeted a Chinese diner who was wearing a Patek Philippe timepiece while eating with a friend at Langan's Brasserie.
Stalking and Assault Captured on CCTV
Sellaoui lurked outside the restaurant until the couple departed and then trailed them as they walked towards Green Park station. He was joined by a waiting accomplice en route before launching the attack on a quieter corner of Stratton Street. The entire incident was captured on CCTV footage, which police used to swiftly identify Sellaoui due to his status as a prolific offender known to authorities.
The victim, Jiangfeng Ni, a chemistry professor from Soochow University in China, was on a leisure trip to London. During the trial at Southwark Crown Court, Mr Ni testified with the aid of a Chinese interpreter, describing how he was approached from behind by two young men soon after leaving the brasserie.
'I was pushed into a corner,' Mr Ni told the jury. 'One of the thieves struggled to rip my watch from my left wrist.' He recounted that once the pair had torn away his timepiece, they both started running, with the thief holding the watch falling over during the escape.
Violent Confrontation and Intimidation
Mr Ni detailed how he attempted to approach the assailants, but one of them swung a punch at him. 'He was waving his fist and making intimidating noises,' the professor said. 'He was trying to attack me and allow time for his companion to run away.' When asked by prosecutor Sue Obeney how he felt about the assault, Mr Ni replied, 'My mind went blank. In my head I had to ask myself: "What happened?"'
Sellaoui, who pleaded not guilty to robbery with the assistance of an Arabic interpreter, was convicted by a jury after a three-day trial. Judge Gregory Perrins addressed the teenager directly, stating, 'You should have absolutely no illusion that you will be sentenced, and then you will be deported.'
Sentencing and Police Investigation
Despite defence arguments for a suspended sentence, noting Sellaoui's age of 17 at the time of the offence, Judge Perrins questioned, 'How can I give a suspended sentence if he is here illegally?' He remanded Sellaoui in custody ahead of sentencing for the robbery, which occurred on February 26, 2024.
Detective Constable Kira Halson, who led the Metropolitan Police investigation, emphasised, 'Tackling violent crime like this is a key priority for the Met. We've set up local, proactive teams to deal with robberies as part of our New Met for London plan.' She added that CCTV enquiries quickly identified Sellaoui as a suspect, with a local officer recognising him while on patrol and making the arrest.
'Despite his young age, Sellaoui is a prolific offender and I'm pleased that we've been able to secure justice for the victim in this case,' DC Halson stated. Further details regarding how Sellaoui entered the country illegally or his previous criminal history were not disclosed in court. The accomplice involved in the attack remains at large and has not yet been apprehended.
