A luxury watch dealer employee took his own life the day after being held in a headlock during a robbery that saw over 70 timepieces worth more than £1.1 million stolen from a Richmond premises.
Oliver White had prepared trays of watches for viewing when two men suddenly stood up, with one grabbing him in a headlock whilst his companion cleared the displays at 247 Kettles on 25 May 2024.
Three men convicted of conspiring to carry out the raid have been sentenced to a combined 51 years imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court today. Kyle Mehmet, 40, received 18 years, Michael Holmes, 35, was jailed for 13 years, and Mannix Pedro, 38, was sentenced to 20 years.
Paul Goddard from the Crown Prosecution Service stated: “The greed of these three men has had considerable, and tragic, consequences. Not only did the business they targeted suffer the loss of over one million pounds’ worth of stock, Oliver White, who was working at the premises, took his own life the following day as a direct result of the robbery. Our thoughts are with Oliver’s loved ones for the terrible loss they have suffered.”
The jury heard evidence of extensive planning behind the operation, including theft of a getaway vehicle, obtaining cloned licence plates, positioning a changeover car at an agreed location, and contacting the shop under pretence of making a purchase.
Mobile phone analysis and vehicle telematics proved movements, relationships and contact between key players, with each defendant performing a distinct role in the conspiracy.
Mehmet entered the Richmond premises with another man to meet White, who had arranged watch displays for viewing. White told police afterwards there was nothing suspicious until the men suddenly stood and attacked him whilst stealing the timepieces.
Holmes had visited the premises two days earlier during an aborted robbery attempt. On the day of the successful raid, he waited nearby before joining the robbers and leaving London with them later that day.
Pedro played a key organizational role in planning and executing the robbery, arranging the robbers’ escape and disposing of the stolen watches. When police examined his phone, they discovered a list of watches matching those taken in the raid and a copy of CCTV footage showing the robbery, which had been circulated by 247 Kettles owners in a watch trade group.
Goddard explained: “Mannix Pedro was a key organiser of the robbery and afterwards helped to dispose of the haul. Meanwhile, Kyle Mehmet and another man carried the robbery out, stealing more than 70 watches and tying up Mr White, while Michael Holmes, waited nearby. Mehmet having made good his escape in a stolen car, then met with Pedro and Holmes, before they travelled together to Colchester.”
The prosecutor described it as “a complex and difficult case” but stated that by carefully assembling evidence, prosecutors built a comprehensive picture of each defendant’s involvement and presented a compelling case leading to convictions.
Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South, emphasized the prosecution service is working closely with police to thwart organized crime groups pursuing high-value watches in London.
He stated: “We know watch thefts have been a stain on London’s community so today’s sentencing proves that we will do everything in our power to tackle this concerning trend. Anyone involved in similar criminal activity should take this as a warning that they will be caught and prosecuted with the full force of the law.”
Mehmet and Holmes were found guilty of conspiracy to rob following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court on 27 November 2025. Pedro was convicted of the same charge following a separate trial at the same court on 19 February 2025.
