An Algerian asylum seeker who stole a drinker’s £7,000 watch was caught when the victim cornered him following a 20-minute pursuit through the back gardens of multi-million pounds houses in London‘s West End.
Mohamed Guemat, 30, has been jailed for 16-months after he admitted snatching Sirous Wadia’s Omega watch outside Sloane bar in Sloane Square, on October 18.
Guemat grabbed Mr Wadia’s watch, ‘tearing the strap in half’, as the victim got into an Uber with a friend at around 1am, Isleworth Crown Court heard.
Mr Wadia, his friend and a security guard then pursued the Algerian for 20 minutes through the backstreets of Chelsea, jumping over fences into private gardens before the thief was cornered by police in the late night chase.
Guemat was serving a suspended sentence at the time.
William Burrell, prosecuting, said: ‘As the Uber pulled up, the victim put his left arm out and felt a man grabbing a watch off his wrist and ran off with it. The theft of the watch led to the strap being torn off.
‘They chased the man, assisted by members of the public who were pointing in the direction the defendant ran in.
‘The defendant was chased into Sloane Gardens where he jumped into a fence into a private garden and was followed.
Mohamed Guemat, 30, has been handed a 16-month sentence after he admitted snatching Sirous Wadia’s watch
‘He then jumped out the back garden. When he jumped back over the fence at approximately 1.40am, he was arrested by police.’
‘The watch was later recovered the following day where it was discarded in a nearby plant pot.’
The victim told the court: ‘This watch was bought by my parents as a symbol of their love to me and gifted to me as a gesture of their love.
‘My parents did not make a lot of money back then and worked hard to buy it for me. I have worn it every day for 15 years.’
Guemat, of Southwark, appeared in the dock on Thursday at Isleworth Crown Court after earlier admitting one count of theft.
He spoke only to confirm his personal details aided by an Arabic interpreter.
He lives with a friend and his asylum claim is still being processed by the Home Office, the court heard.
George Dugbo, defending, said: ‘He has no means and has no job. He is from Algeria and is an asylum seeker.
The £7,000 watch was captured by owner Sirous Wadia after a 20 minute chase through London’s West End
‘He was simply with friends as they would normally do in most evenings.
‘He has expressed remorse and would like to personally offer his apologies to the victim.’
Sentencing, Judge Chloe Carpenter KC told Guemat: ‘You led them on a chase. They lost sight of you after a few seconds. You did not stop and you were chased up to the Kings Road.
‘The watch was recovered by police after scanning hours of CCTV. It was not given back by you.
‘There was contact with the victim. That is some force in my judgement. You snatched this watch while this person was going about their life late at night.
‘I completely understand the anxiety Mr Wadia suffered due to this offence.’
The judge added: ‘You may face deportation once you have served your time in prison. But if there is a delay in your deportation, you will be released into the community on licence.’
