Frenchman Jailed Over £4m Diamond Heist
A French crook has been locked up for nearly four years over a slick 2016 jewellery robbery that saw £4 million worth of diamonds vanish.
Mickael Jovanovic, 27, from Le Blanc-Mesnil, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, 29 May, to three years and eight months behind bars. He had already admitted conspiracy to steal back in February.
International Gang Posed as Diamond Buyers
Jovanovic was part of a cunning international crew who faked being diamond buyers to pull off the crime.
- In early 2016, the gang gained the trust of sellers, even meeting in Monaco on 2 March to scope out the gems.
- They arranged to view diamonds in London, acting like serious buyers.
- Jovanovic and his accomplices flew from France, staying in Ilford before heading to central London.
High-Stakes Distraction Theft in Mayfair
The gang’s ace was a fake gemmologist dubbed ‘Anna’, who stole the diamonds during an appraisal at a Mayfair shop.
While distracting staff, she swapped the real stones with fakes displayed in a padlocked bag, which was then put back in the safe. After the theft, she handed the loot to gang members outside and they quickly fled back to France within hours.
Met Police Crack Case After Four Years
The victim got suspicious when payment was delayed and discovered the switch. The Met’s Flying Squad launched a cross-border probe, piecing together CCTV footage and tracking the gang’s movements via minicabs and rental cars.
Jovanovic was finally arrested in Italy and extradited back to the UK in January this year.
“This was a well-organised theft that played out like a film,” said Detective Constable William Man. “They fled within hours but left enough evidence behind. We never gave up, and that’s why we caught him after four years. We’re still determined to find all involved.”
