A migrant who snatched a £38,000 Rolex from a tourist two months after he came to Britain with a false birth certificate faces deportation after serving his jail sentence.
Moroccan Aylan Snouci, 22, claimed he was just 16 when he arrived in the country in February.
Snouci followed Hong Kong national Woosang Hwang through Market Mews in Mayfair before grabbing him from behind and wrenching his designer watch from his wrist.
Mr Hwang was left with cuts and bruises after the attack on April 30 this year.
Snouci was quicky caught and the watch was recovered, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Sentencing, Judge Gregory Perrins said: ‘Woosang Hwang was making his way to Heathrow to return to Hong Kong having been in London for work.
‘As he was walking along the street you decided to rob him. You grabbed him from behind. You pulled his Rolex watch off his wrist using what he described as a large amount of force.
‘He also said that you caused cuts and bruises. You ran off but you were chased and you were caught.
Moroccan Aylan Snouci, 22, claimed he was just 16 when he arrived in the country in February
‘It was no mere coincidence that you happened to rob him. You plainly targeted him when you saw that he was wearing a high value watch that I am told is worth in the region of $50,000 (£38,000).
‘The victim describes being left shocked and shaken by what you did to him. It made him consider whether or not he would return to the UK.’
The judge added: ‘This is not a case where it can be said that the force used was minimal. The victim himself said that a large amount of force was used, and I take that at face value.
‘You broke the strap of the watch and left a mark on his skin.
‘You had only been in the country for two months when you were remanded in custody. You have done your best to manipulate the court proceedings.
‘You dishonestly told the court that you were sixteen. You provided a false birth certificate. You persisted in the claim that you were a child. You did that in a deliberate attempt to obtain a lighter sentence.
‘This was plainly an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
‘You came to this country illegally in February 2025. You claimed to be acting under duress when you committed this offence. I make it plain that I completely reject that account. There is simply no evidence to support what you said.
‘As you have shown with the issue of your age, you were prepared to lie in order to achieve a lower sentence. There is absolutely no reason I should believe anything you say.’
Snouci, of Brent, was jailed for 18 months, of which he will serve 40 per cent of the sentence in custody.
Judge Perrins told Snouci: ‘Given the length of the sentence, and given that you are here illegally, it is inevitable that you will be deported.
‘I anticipate that when you have served your forty per cent you will be detained until appropriate flights can be arranged.’
Snouci, assisted in court by an Arabic interpreter, admitted one count of robbery.
