Watch thief who targeted a wealthy tourist for his £37,000 timepiece as he left a high-end restaurant will be deported

Algerian Thief Convicted of Robbery and Ordered Deportation After Stolen £37,000 Watch Incident

A 19-year-old Algerian burglar, who stole a £37,000 wristwatch from a Chinese academic as he exited a luxury dining establishment, faces deportation following his conviction. The theft occurred in Mayfair on February 26, 2024, when Sellaoui targeted Jiangfeng Ni, a chemistry professor at Soochow University in China.

The Assault at Langan’s Brasserie

Mr Ni described the attack to jurors, recounting how two men approached him from behind as he left Langan’s Brasserie on Stratton Street. He claimed he was cornered and one of the thieves tried to remove his watch from his left wrist. ‘The person with my watch fell over… the watch was still in his hand,’ the professor stated through a Chinese interpreter, adding that he approached them but was struck by the other suspect’s punch.

‘I went to approach them but when I was bending down the person on my right swung a punch at me. He was waving his fist and making “woo woo” noises.’

Prosecutor Sue Obeney questioned Mr Ni on his emotional state during the assault, to which he responded: ‘My mind went blank. In my head I had to ask myself: “What happened?”‘ In contrast, defense counsel Joshua Clements argued that Mr Ni had confused the suspects, noting that he had added ‘extra details’ not present in his initial police report. He also highlighted that the professor took ‘nearly an hour’ during the identity parade, requesting to view different images 15 times.

‘You asked to see different images 15 times. The reality is, Mr Ni, after all of that, you could not have been sure who the suspect was.’

Mr Ni emphasized his ‘very good eyesight’ and explained that he took his time during the identification process because he ‘wanted to make sure.’ ‘I was quite nervous at the time, but who pushed me, it was quite obvious. I remember it clearly,’ he said.

Verdict and Deportation Order

During a three-day trial at Southwark Crown Court, Sellaoui, assisted by an Arabic interpreter, initially pleaded not guilty to the robbery charge. However, the jury found him guilty of the offense. Judge Gregory Perrins informed the teenager: ‘Being in mind of your age at the time, I am going to order a pre-sentence report. But in fairness, you should have absolutely no illusion that you will be sentenced, and then you will be deported.’

‘How can I give a suspended sentence if he is here illegally?’

Mr Clements urged the judge to pass a suspended sentence, noting Sellaoui was only 17 at the time of the offense. The judge, however, remanded him in custody ahead of sentencing on April 9.

Met Police’s Response to the Crime

Detective Constable Kira Halson, who led the Met Police’s investigation, stated: ‘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. CCTV enquiries quickly identified Sellaoui as a suspect, with a local officer recognizing 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.’