Watch: Burglar uses smoke grenades and sledgehammer in Claridge's raid
A burglar used a sledgehammer and smoke grenades while trying to steal jewels worth £190,000 from Claridge's hotel in Mayfair.
Jay McGinty, 37, arrived at the hotel's riding pavilion in March on a Vespa scooter, whilst wearing a balaclava underneath his crash helmet, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said
McGinty, of no fixed abode, went through the revolving doors at the hotel's side entrance and pulled pins from several smoke grenades he was carrying.
After the grenades went off, he could be seen on CCTV using a sledgehammer to smash a display case containing several items of jewellery.
He was stopped by hotel security staff, who detained him until the police arrived.
McGinty pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday to six years' imprisonment.
Monica Oluwole, from the CPS, said: 'Jay McGinty tried to use a smokescreen to cover his brazen attempt to steal highly valued items of jewellery.
'He was caught red-handed thanks to the quick actions of the hotel security and staff who prevented him from escaping and called the police.
'This heist, although it had all the hallmarks of planning and reconnaissance work, didn't work and we were able to make sure he was brought to justice.'
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