London Pub Thief Jailed for Stealing £2.2m Fabergé Egg and Watch Set
Enzo Conticello, a 29-year-old man, has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for the theft of a handbag containing a Fabergé egg and watch set valued at up to £2.2 million. The incident occurred at the Dog and Duck pub in Soho, London, on November 7, 2024, where Conticello took the Givenchy bag belonging to Rosie Dawson from the smoking area.
Details of the Opportunistic Crime
Conticello, also known as Hakin Boudjenoune, pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation and one count of theft. The court heard that he was after easy money and handed over the bag, which included the precious Fabergé items, to purchase drugs. Inside the £1,600 handbag were not only the emerald-encrusted Fabergé egg and watch set but also a £1,500 Apple laptop, Apple AirPods, a £350 store voucher, keys, three bank cards, £200 worth of makeup, a Mulberry card holder valued at £150, and £20 in cash.
Rosie Dawson, who had the Fabergé items for display at a work event earlier that evening, described the shock and panic upon realizing the theft. The stolen set is one of only seven in existence, with three having sold for between £1.5 million and £2.25 million. Insurers have paid out £106,700 to the Craft Irish Whiskey Company, Dawson's employers, for the loss.
Sentencing and Aftermath
At Southwark Crown Court, Recorder Kate Livesey sentenced Conticello to two years and three months in prison, noting the opportunistic nature of the theft and the inconvenience and stress caused to Dawson and her company. Conticello's barrister, Katie Porter-Windley, explained that he lost his job as a chef during the Covid pandemic and developed a cocaine addiction, leading to this moment of opportunity.
Minutes after the theft, Dawson received a fraud alert showing Conticello attempted to use one of her bank cards for a £33.48 purchase at a nearby shop on Berwick Street. Two further attempts were made, but the cards had already been cancelled. The Fabergé egg and watch set have not been recovered, and prosecutors have stated that efforts to seek confiscation or compensation from Conticello will not be pursued due to his lack of means.
Conticello is likely to serve up to half of his prison term before being released on licence, highlighting the ongoing challenges in recovering high-value stolen luxury goods in London.
