A luxury watch store manager tragically took his own life the day after being violently robbed of £1.4 million worth of designer timepieces, a court has heard.
Oliver White, 27, was restrained with cable ties and held in a chokehold during a meticulously planned heist at the 247 Kettles store in Richmond, west London, on May 25, 2024. Two men posing as customers stole approximately 80 high-value watches, precious gems, and £155,000 in cash. The stolen items were uninsured.
The following day, Mr. White, deeply shaken by the ordeal, was found deceased in a woodland area near Shepperton, Surrey. The prosecution has described the incident as a “truly tragic postscript” to the robbery.
The Robbery
Junior Kuku, 29, of Mitcham, and Mannix Pedro, 37, of Cobham, Surrey, are on trial at Woolwich Crown Court, accused of playing significant roles in the high-value theft. Three additional suspects fled the UK after the crime and remain at large.
The court heard that Kuku and another accomplice entered the store pretending to be interested in viewing watches. CCTV footage showed them calmly surveying the valuable timepieces before launching their attack. Mr. White was overpowered, bound with cable ties, and left helpless as the thieves loaded a backpack with watches, including a £30,000 Rolex Sky Dweller.
A Tragic Outcome
Prosecutor Edward Brown KC told the jury that Mr. White gave two statements to police following the robbery, describing how he was restrained while the robbers “grabbed watch after watch.” By the time police arrived, the perpetrators had fled in a stolen Audi A3, switching to a second “changeover” vehicle to escape undetected.
The day after the robbery, Mr. White was found dead. Mr. Brown stated that the manager’s death was a direct result of the trauma he experienced during the incident.
A Well-Planned Heist
The court was told that the robbery was the culmination of months of meticulous planning. The conspirators conducted reconnaissance missions, including an aborted attempt two days before the successful raid. Communications revealed detailed discussions about the store’s stock, with instructions to steal specific high-value items.
The gang used multiple vehicles, including a stolen Audi A3 and a purchased Audi A5, to execute the robbery and ensure their escape. Meetings were held across the UK in locations such as London, Sheffield, and Wolverhampton to plan the crime.
The Aftermath
None of the stolen items, worth an estimated £1.38 million, have been recovered. The store, named after the Cockney rhyming slang for watches (“kettle and hob”), suffered devastating losses, as the watches were uninsured.
The court also heard how Pedro coordinated the robbery’s logistics, including communication with the getaway team. Mr. Brown emphasised that such a high-value crime “does not happen by chance.”
Trial Continues
Both Kuku and Pedro deny conspiracy to commit robbery. The trial, which has unveiled the harrowing events surrounding the robbery and its aftermath, is ongoing.
