Mannix Pedro, 37, and Junior Kunu, 30, have been charged in connection with a robbery in which over £1.3 million worth of luxury watches were stolen from a jewellery shop in south-west London last year.
The incident took place on the afternoon of May 25, 2024, at Kettles 247 in Richmond. More than 70 high-value watches were taken before the suspects reportedly fled to Colchester. During the robbery, office manager Oliver White, 27, was attacked, put into a headlock, and bound. Tragically, Mr White died by suicide the following day, an act prosecutors claim was directly linked to the traumatic event.
At least two other individuals, Michael Ashman and Kyle Bowrage, are believed to be involved and remain at large.
Pedro, who allegedly was not inside the shop during the robbery but played a pivotal role in the planning and execution, is said to have used a stolen Audi as one of the getaway vehicles. Police arrested him on May 29, 2024. In his interview, Pedro denied any involvement in the watch trade and dismissed a Rolex found at his home as a counterfeit.
“I think every man loves a watch – cars, watches and women,” Pedro reportedly told officers during the interview.
Prosecutors presented a timeline detailing Pedro’s movements after the robbery, which was tracked using CCTV and mobile phone data. It was revealed that Pedro traveled from Richmond to Woking, Surrey, then to Colchester, and later drove further north to Rotherham, Sheffield, and Doncaster.
On May 28, just days before his arrest, Pedro searched for “Rolex watch dial” on his phone. Data from his phone also showed communications with a contact linked to the shop’s inventory.
Despite the extensive investigation, none of the stolen watches have been recovered. Both Pedro and Kunu deny the charges. The trial continues, with the whereabouts of Ashman and Bowrage still unknown.
