Three men involved in a carefully planned robbery that saw more than £1.1 million worth of luxury watches stolen from a Richmond retailer have been jailed for a combined total of 51 years.

Kyle Mehmet, 40, Michael Holmes, 35, and Mannix Pedro, 38, were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court after being found guilty of conspiring to rob 247 Kettles, a high-end watch dealer on Kew Road on 25 May 2024.

Mehmet was sentenced to 18 years in prison, Holmes to 13 years, and Pedro to 20 years.

The court heard how the trio carried out a detailed and organised plan to target the business, which specialises in high-value watches.

This included stealing a getaway car, using cloned number plates, arranging a second "changeover" vehicle, and contacting the shop under the pretence of making a legitimate purchase.

On 25 May 2024, Mehmet entered the premises with another man to view watches with a member of staff, Oliver White, who had prepared trays of watches for the meeting.

In a statement to police, Mr White said there was nothing to arouse suspicion until the men suddenly stood up, with one placing him in a headlock while the other cleared the watches from the trays.

More than 70 watches were stolen during the raid.

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Holmes had attended the shop two days earlier during an aborted robbery attempt. On the day of the robbery, he waited nearby before later joining the others and leaving London with them.

Pedro was found to have played a key role in planning the robbery, organising the escape and helping to dispose of the stolen watches.

When police examined his phone, they discovered a list of watches matching those stolen, as well as a copy of CCTV footage of the robbery that had been shared within a watch trade group, indicating he was actively monitoring the fallout from the crime.

Mobile phone analysis and vehicle data helped investigators establish the roles of each man and track their movements before and after the robbery.

Mr White took his own life the day after the robbery. Paul Goddard, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said the actions of the defendants had "considerable, and tragic, consequences".

Goddard said: "Not only did the business they targeted suffer the loss of over one million pounds' worth of stock, but Oliver White, who was working at the premises, took his own life the following day as a direct result of the robbery.

"Our thoughts are with Oliver's loved ones for the terrible loss they have suffered."

Chief Crown Prosecutor Lionel Idan said the case highlighted the CPS's determination to tackle organised watch thefts in London.

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"Watch thefts have been a stain on London's community, so today's sentencing proves that we will do everything in our power to tackle this concerning trend," he said.

"Anyone involved in similar criminal activity should take this as a warning that they will be caught and prosecuted with the full force of the law."

READ MORE: Richmond watch shop pays tribute to 'beloved' colleague who died day after robbery.

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