Three men have received substantial prison sentences for orchestrating a meticulously planned £1.1 million jewellery shop robbery in South West London, a crime that tragically led to the suicide of the store's young manager the following day.
Lengthy Sentences for Organised Crime
Kyle Mehmet, 40, Michael Holmes, 35, and Mannix Pedro, 38, were found guilty of conspiring to rob more than 70 high-value watches from 247 Kettles, a specialist watch retailer in Richmond, on May 25, 2024. Woolwich Crown Court delivered their sentences on Friday, with Pedro receiving 20 years, Mehmet 18 years, and Holmes 13 years imprisonment.
Tragic Human Cost
The court heard how 27-year-old Oliver White, who was tied up and placed in a headlock during the violent robbery, took his own life the very next day as a direct result of the traumatic incident. Prosecutors revealed that in a state of extreme distress following the theft, Mr White attempted to transfer £14,000 of his personal savings to his employers.
Described by those who knew him as someone who "did not see the risk or bad in anyone" and who "showed real enthusiasm for his work at Kettles," Mr White reportedly told his girlfriend he had been accused by one of the robbers "of not putting up enough of a fight." After transferring the money, he ceased all communication and was later found deceased in a wooded area he had frequented since childhood.
Sophisticated Criminal Operation
Evidence presented during the trial revealed the extensive preparation undertaken by the conspirators, which included:
- Stealing a getaway vehicle specifically for the robbery
- Obtaining cloned licence plates to avoid detection
- Arranging a changeover car at a pre-agreed location
- Contacting the watch shop under false pretences to scope the premises
Paul Goddard from the Crown Prosecution Service stated: "The greed of these three men has had considerable, and tragic, consequences. Not only did the business they targeted suffer the loss of over one million pounds' worth of stock, Oliver White, who was working at the premises, took his own life the following day as a direct result of the robbery."
Roles in the Conspiracy
The court established that Mannix Pedro served as a key organiser of the robbery and subsequently assisted in disposing of the stolen watches. Kyle Mehmet, along with another individual, executed the actual robbery, stealing the watches and restraining Mr White, while Michael Holmes waited nearby as part of the operation.
Following their escape in a stolen vehicle, Mehmet met with Pedro and Holmes before the group travelled together to Colchester. The CPS described the case as "complex and difficult," noting that prosecutors had to carefully assemble evidence to build a comprehensive picture of each defendant's involvement, ultimately securing convictions against all three men.
The Crown Prosecution Service extended their sympathies to Oliver White's loved ones, acknowledging the "terrible loss they have suffered" as a result of this calculated criminal act that extended far beyond financial theft to claim a young life.
