Three men have been sentenced for trying to snatch an £11,000 Rolex from a man at Didcot railway station – but only one showed up in court. The other two are either on the run or living abroad.
Only One Thug Faces Court, Others Dodge Justice
Rabah Bouhassane, 27, from Earley, Wokingham, Abdennour Hrawji, 29, from London, and Abdehmane Chikh, 27, also from London, were found guilty of attempted robbery. The crime took place in September 2022 when they tried to rob Adam Cave’s luxury watch.
Chikh was the only defendant to appear at the trial and sentencing on December 12. Judge Michael Roques revealed the other two men chose to stay away. One fled to Ireland to lodge a new immigration claim after his application was rejected. The other has been on the run since 2023.
Thug Sentenced to Suspended Jail, Fugitives Handed Jail in Absentia
Chikh, who has since found accommodation in northeast England, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months. He must complete 32 days of rehabilitation and serve a six-month curfew.
Bouhassane and Hrawji received two-year jail sentences in their absence.
How the Robbery Unfolded
Prosecutor Jacinta Stringer explained the incident during the trial. Adam Cave and a colleague, Lauren Maddocks, had just arrived on a train at Didcot Parkway when three men closely followed them to a taxi rank.
- Two assailants tried to rip the Rolex from Mr Cave’s wrist.
- The third distracted the taxi driver.
- Mr Cave had spotted the men on the train and they even asked if it stopped at Swindon beforehand.
When the robbery failed, the trio made a quick getaway. Dashcam footage from a nearby taxi captured part of the failed attack.
Judge Roques on Chikh’s sentence: “Mr Chikh has demonstrated he will comply with court orders.”
