'Rolex rippers' who robbed people on the streets of Mayfair and London's West End are jailed for 30 years
Three 'Rolex rippers' who beat up their victims in central London before grabbing expensive watches off their wrists have been jailed for a total of 30 years.
Tedros Haile, 35, Mahad Jammeh, 24, and Christian Whittingham, 27, carried out a series of attacks on the streets of Mayfair and the West End on June 25 last year.
The trio targeted Michail Rivas outside the Rolls Royce showroom in Stratton Street as they surrounded him after jumping out of a white BMW wearing face coverings.
They grabbed Mr Rivas' Mido Baroncelli Moonphase Chronograph worth £1,000 and quickly made off in the getaway car.
Mr Rivas later said he felt the watch could not be replaced as it had sentimental value and added he was apprehensive leaving his flat the next morning.
Later that night the thieves targeted Mark Jackson and Oliver Wragg in Brewer Street.
Both were wearing short sleeved tops and expensive looking watches after a night out watching football.
Mr Jackson felt a hard object hit him behind his head then was hit with multiple full force fist punches.
He heard one of the thugs saying 'get his watch' and one say 'stab him in the face'.
One of the robbers put Mr Wragg in a chokehold from behind and he gave up his £600 Audemars Piguet replica watch.
The muggers made a getaway in the BMW they had used for both robberies.
Jammeh has 11 previous convictions for robbery dating back to when he was 15.
Haile was in breach of a suspended sentence order for a burglary where he and another man broke into a flat where a woman was present.
Haile was earlier jailed for 11 years and Jammeh was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Whittingham became the third member of the gang to be jailed when he was sentenced to ten years and six months imprisonment on Friday last week at Southwark Crown Court.
Judge Christopher Hehir said the robbers 'were clearly looking to identify members of the public wearing valuable wrist watches'.
He added: 'These were planned and group offences - involving multiple people attacking one or two people.'
Haile, of Guinness Trust Buildings, Fulham Palace Road, admitted one count of robbery and denied but was convicted of one count of robbery and one of attempted robbery.
Jammeh, of Welch House, Beaconsfield Road, Enfield, and Whittingham, of Granvill Road, Uxbridge, admitted two counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery.
Detective Inspector Lizzie Beeston, who led the Met's investigation, said: 'Our investigation has ensured three violent offenders have been removed from our streets.
'Every robbery has a significant impact on the victim. This is a violent crime that leaves a significant, lasting effect on the victim.
'Tackling violent crime in all its forms is one of the Met's priorities and we are determined to reduce the number of robberies. As part of the New Met for London Plan, localised proactive teams have been set up to deal with robberies affecting our local communities.'
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