Two men have been found guilty of robbing a fashion designer of his £137,000 Richard Mille watch, which was cut from his wrist as he departed a Mayfair restaurant on 28 January. Ali Eldahouzze, 22, and Abdel El Habchi, 30, were convicted of robbery following a nine-day trial at Southwark Crown Court, while the lead robber, Younes Djoudi, had already pleaded guilty before the trial began.
The incident occurred in Berkeley Square outside Amazonico, a Latin American restaurant where Catalin Botezatu, a Romanian entrepreneur, had been dining with his assistant and a friend. According to court reporting from August 2026, Botezatu was smoking near his vehicle when the three men surrounded him and forcibly removed the timepiece from his left wrist.
Prosecutor Arizuna Asante told the court that a sharp instrument was used to cut through the rubber strap securing the watch.
The three males surrounded Mr Botezatu and robbed him of his watch by wresting it from his left wrist,Asante explained. Evidence suggested a knife had been employed to sever the strap, as Botezatu sustained cuts to his wrists during the assault.
The watch itself was from Richard Mille's highly coveted Sapphire Series, made from solid sapphire crystal, making it one of the brand's most distinctive and valuable pieces.
What happened during the robbery?
Testifying from behind a protective screen, Botezatu described being pushed against a fence and then restrained by the attackers.
The man in the middle had a sharp instrument, I don't know what, and he cut me. He cut the watch strap as well,he told Southwark Crown Court. The entrepreneur, from Bucharest, explained that he was confronted and overpowered before the watch was forcibly removed.
Botezatu's account revealed the psychological impact of the assault.
I couldn't believe that something like this could happen in London, in front of a luxury restaurant where I was a client,he said. He further stated:
I feared for my life because of my cancer operation and because I have five stents and because the slightest blow or cut, God forbid, where I was operated, could have been fatal.
What were the defendants' claims?
Eldahouzze and El Habchi maintained that they were unaware the robbery was about to occur and claimed they acted under duress, fearing reprisals from Djoudi. Despite these assertions, the jury rejected their defence and convicted both men of robbery after deliberating on the evidence presented throughout the trial.
Djoudi, identified as the lead robber in the operation, had admitted his involvement before the trial commenced, streamlining proceedings against the other two defendants.
How does this fit into broader crime trends?
This case reflects a pattern of high-value targeted robberies in the United Kingdom. According to reporting from September 2026, such incidents involving luxury watches and jewellery have become increasingly common in affluent London areas. The Botezatu case shares similarities with other recent violent thefts, including a stabbing in Leicester motivated by a dispute over a Rolex watch, demonstrating the risks luxury goods owners face in urban centres.
What happens next?
All three men remain in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for 16 October. The court will determine appropriate sentences for Eldahouzze and El Habchi following their convictions, while Djoudi awaits sentencing for his guilty plea to the robbery charge.
Key Facts:
- The stolen Richard Mille watch, from the Sapphire Series, was valued at £137,000
- The robbery occurred outside Amazonico restaurant in Berkeley Square on 28 January
- Lead robber Younes Djoudi pleaded guilty; Eldahouzze and El Habchi were convicted after a nine-day trial
- All three defendants remain remanded in custody until sentencing on 16 October
- The victim reported fearing for his life due to pre-existing health conditions including five stents
