Amine Bentaib, 29, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after a dramatic attempt to steal a £18,000 Rolex from a grandfather in London. Bentaib, along with his accomplice Rayan Belhadj, targeted Christopher Harris as he was returning to his AirBnb in Paddington after buying takeaway from the Queen of Sheba restaurant on July 8 last year.
CCTV footage showed Bentaib waiting outside the restaurant before following Harris to the AirBnb. He attempted to snatch Harris’s expensive Rolex Yacht-Master watch, but Harris fought back valiantly, using takeaway bags as weapons to fend off the muggers.
Despite his shirt being torn during the scuffle, Harris successfully kept hold of his watch, and the thieves fled empty-handed. Bentaib, who had a prior conviction for a similar watch robbery attempt, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery.
Judge Adam Hiddleston condemned the rising trend of watch robberies in London, emphasizing the long prison sentences for those involved. Belhadj is already serving a three-year sentence for his role in the crime.
The victim, Christopher Harris, was left deeply shaken by the attack, feeling anxious and apprehensive when going outside. The police praised his bravery, and Detective Constable Alex Earley urged the public to report such incidents immediately to help stop the criminals from targeting others.