An illegal immigrant stalked a wealthy tourist as he walked through Mayfair on an evening out before violently attacking to rip a £37,000 watch from his wrist.
Algerian teenager Mohamed Sellaoui launched the assault after he spotted a Chinese diner eating with a friend at Langan’s Brasserie was wearing a Patek Philippe timepiece.
Sellaoui lurked outside the restaurant until the couple left and then trailed them as they walked towards Green Park station. He was joined by a waiting accomplice on the way before he attacked the watch owner on a quieter corner.
The attack was captured on CCTV, with Sellaoui swiftly identified by police who viewed the footage, because despite being only 17 he was a ‘prolific offender’ and known to police.
His accomplice shown joining in the attack has not yet been caught.
Their victim was Jiangfeng Ni, a chemistry professor from Soochow University in China, who was on a leisure trip to London.
Mr Ni later appeared as a witness in the trial of Sellauoi and told a jury how he was approached by the two young men from behind on Stratton Street, Mayfair soon after leaving the brasserie.
He said he was ‘pushed into a corner’ and that one of the thieves struggled to rip his watch from his left wrist.
Algerian teenager Mohamed Sellaoui stalked a wealthy tourist as he walked through Mayfair on an evening out before violently attacking to rip a £37,000 watch from his wrist
Sellaoui (circled) lurked outside the restaurant until the tourist left and then trailed him as he walked towards Green Park station. The thief was joined by a waiting accomplice on the way before he attacked the watch owner on a quieter corner
Mr Ni said that once the pair had torn away his timepiece, they both started running.
‘The person with my watch fell over… the watch was still in his hand,’ the professor told jurors at Southwark Crown Court with the aid of a Chinese interpreter.
‘I went to approach them, but when I was bending down the person on my right swung a punch at me.
‘He was waving his fist and making [intimidating] noises.’
Mr Ni added: ‘He was trying to attack me and allow time for his companion to run away.’
Prosecutor Sue Obeney asked Mr Ni how he felt about the assault.
He replied: ‘My mind went blank. In my head I had to ask myself: “What happened?”
Sellaoui, aided by an Arabic interpreter, pleaded not guilty to robbery but was convicted by a jury of robbery after a three-day trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Judge Gregory Perrins told the teenager: ‘You should have absolutely no illusion that you will be sentenced, and then you will be deported.’
Mr Clements urged the judge to pass a suspended sentence, noting Sellaoui was only 17 at the time of the offence.
But the judge said: ‘How can I give a suspended sentence if he is here illegally?’
He remanded Sellaoui in custody ahead of sentencing for the robbery which took place on February 26, 2024.
Detective Constable Kira Halson, who led the Met Police’s investigation, said: ‘Tackling violent crime like this is a key priority for the Met.
CCTV caught the moment Sellaoui and his accomplice grappled with the victim during the incident in February 2024
Mr Ni told jurors he was approached by two men from behind as he left Langan’s Brasserie on Stratton Street (pictured)
‘We’ve set up local, proactive teams to deal with robberies as part of our New Met for London plan.
‘CCTV enquiries quickly identified Sellaoui as a suspect, with a local officer recognising him while on patrol and making the arrest.
‘Despite his young age, Sellaoui is a prolific offender and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to secure justice for the victim in this case.’
Further details of how he came into the country illegally or his previous crimes were not read to the court.
