Career burglar says he is late for court because he has only got six weeks to live

A career criminal turned up at court four hours late and explained to a judge: ‘I haven’t got much time left to live’.

Raymond Adewale, 71, is facing jail for stealing more than £55,000 worth of gems and sculptures.

He took five rings worth £34,000 from SKO Jewellery in Mayfair on 28 February 2023.

Adewale then stole two bronze statues worth £7,200 each from Gladwell and Patterson, an internationally renowned art gallery in Knightsbridge, on 19 April 2024.

Seven days later, he swiped a silver diamond necklace worth £7,500 from Suttons and Robertson’s Pawnbrokers in central London.

The serial thief, from Croydon, appeared in court four hours late after Judge Martyn Levett issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

In March he apologised to a judge for being late and explain that he had been burgled the night before.

Adewale, who claims he has been diagnosed with late-stage leukaemia, eventually appeared in court just after 2pm, wearing a navy long-sleeve rugby shirt and beige trousers.

Asked about his medical conditions, a probation officer said hospital records dated last July show doctors told him ‘they are giving him until July this year’.

But Judge Martyn Levett said: ‘The difficulty is nothing is in the system to verify this, there is no barrister here to defend, and there is no prosecutor.’

‘I have not got anyone to say if I am right or wrong in anything I do, so I am handicapped today.’

The judge added he has ‘no idea whether the defendant is on bail’ and wanted a prosecutor to attend court to tell him what is happening.

Adewale interrupted to say: ‘I was on bail, sir.’

But the judge said: ‘It is probably wise for the defendant to be represented because if he continues to interrupt, he will be held in contempt of court.’

Nonetheless an agitated Adewale asked: ‘Will the sentence be dealt with today?’

Judge Levett said: ‘No, there is no defence advocate, as you did not communicate to anyone that you would be late.

He added the bench warrant for his arrest, issued at noon when he failed to attend court at the allocated time, would ‘still be outstanding, in case you decide to walk away.’

Adewale said he would not walk away but added: ‘The hospital tell me I have not got to much time left to live.’

The judge simply asked for him to stay in the building.

Outside of the courtroom, Adewale complained: ‘I need to get my meds.’

He will next appear at Southwark Crown Court for sentence on 29 May.

Adewale was jailed for nine months in 2013 for stealing precious gems from a Rochester jeweller worth £40,000 just days after he was released from prison for previous thefts.

By then, he had already racked up 50 previous convictions for thefts dating back to 1994.

Adewale admitted four charges of theft.