Man guilty over £1.38m watch heist in London

File image from 2015 showing the walkway and entrance at Woolwich Crown CourtImage source, PA News
Image caption,

Woolwich Crown Court heard Mannix Pedro, 37, was "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the robbery from 247 Kettles in Richmond

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A man has been been found guilty of conspiring to commit robbery after watches worth £1.38m were stolen from a south-west London jewellery store.

Mannix Pedro, 37, was "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the robbery from 247 Kettles in Richmond on 25 May last year, Woolwich Crown Court heard.

The store's office manager Oliver White, 27, took his life the following day "as a direct result" of the raid, jurors were previously told.

The jury found Pedro, from Woking in Surrey, guilty after more than 23 hours of deliberation. A second defendant, Junior Kunu, 30, from Mitcham in south-west London, remains on trial charged with the same offence.

A black and white image of Oliver White, a young man with short hair wearing a black t-shirt and looking at the cameraImage source, 247 Kettles
Image caption,

Office manager Oliver White took his life the day after the watches were stolen

Prosecutors argued Pedro did not go into the shop during the robbery, but instead organised the use of a stolen Audi as one of two getaway cars.

None of the watches stolen in the robbery were recovered and none were insured, despite the business being a victim of theft three years earlier, jurors were previously told.

Mr Kunu's trial resumes on Friday.

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