BBC Breakfast presenter Ben Thompson has described a violent robbery in London that left him with a permanent wrist scar and a deep sense of insecurity in the city.
The Violent Robbery
The 45-year-old broadcaster lost his £7,000 Rolex watch—engraved as a birthday gift from his partner—when a gang of six men tore it from his wrist in March last year. The attack occurred as Thompson and his friend, luxury perfumier Roja Dove, 69, exited the upscale Cecconi’s restaurant in Mayfair.
Dove was shoved to the ground during the assault, and thieves snatched his diamond-encrusted Patek Philippe watch, valued at approximately £150,000. The gang targeted the pair specifically for high-value timepieces.
Investigation and Convictions
Police used CCTV footage to identify two suspects. At the Old Bailey, 26-year-old Hocine Boulanouar denied robbery charges but was convicted and sentenced to four years and three months in prison. Danis Tom-Deter, 36, pleaded guilty and received two years and three months.
Lasting Emotional Toll
In a victim impact statement to the court, Thompson detailed the ongoing effects. “After this attack my behaviour has changed – I no longer feel safe in London,” he stated. The presenter added, “I am nervous and jumpy when I hear a jogger or cyclist approaching behind me.”
Growing Threat of Watch Thefts
The case underscores rising luxury watch robberies in central London, where criminals increasingly ambush patrons outside high-end establishments.
