Algerian Enzo Conticello jailed for theft of £2m Faberge egg

An Algerian thief who swiped a woman’s handbag containing a Fabergé egg and watch worth £2m outside a West End pub was jailed for 27 months and will be deported once he is freed from prison.

Enzo Conticello, 29, targeted Rosie Dawson, Director of Premium Brands at Craft Irish Whiskey as she greeted a friend outside the Dog and Duck in Bateman Street, Soho, on 7 November 2024.

Conticello sidled up to Ms Dawson thieved her Givenchy handbag containing ‘credit cards, a laptop, the Fabergé egg and a Fabergé watch, to the value of over £2.1m.

He then used Ms Dawson’s credit card to buy himself a drink, cigarettes and other goods in a nearby Co-Op and Nisa Local, just ‘metres’ away from the pub where he stole the bag.

Conticello, also known as Hakim Boudjenoune, was arrested by Met detectives in Belfast on 26 January for a separate matter related to theft.

Last month he admitted theft and three counts of fraud by false representation.

The Fabergé egg and watch, which belong to the Craft Irish Whiskey Company have never been recovered and Conticello claims he ‘gave them away.’

Asked by the judge, Ms Recorder Kate Livesey KC, what Conticello had done with the stolen items, Kate Porter-Windley, defending, said: ‘He gave the bag to someone to purchase drugs.

‘He was a cocaine addict at the time, I am pleased to say he is now eight months clean, but at the time he just gave the bag away.’

She said the Algerian had ‘absolutely no idea’ what the Faberge items were, adding: ‘I confess I didn’t know what the item was, I had to look it up myself.

‘And it certainly wasn’t known to Mr Conticello. He had absolutely no idea the value of it, none whatsoever.’

But the judge said: ‘It’s quite an extraordinary item, isn’t it?’

Ms Porter-Windley replied: ‘In fairness to Mr Conticello, who was sleeping rough… he simply didn’t recognise it.

‘These offences were committed in circumstances where it looks as though the defendant wanted to obtain some easy cash, and his usage of the cards suggests precisely that.

‘He is not likely to be a man with any significant means at all.’

She added he felt ‘genuine remorse’ for his actions and ‘does not want to be someone tagged as a bag snatcher… It’s certainly not something he wants to do again.’

Conticello appeared in the dock wearing a grey prison-issue tracksuit, looking unsettled and arms folded.

Prosecutor Julian Winship said: ‘The Crown does not contradict he did not intend to steal the Faberge egg and Faberge watch.

‘But the nature of this type of theft is that sometimes little value would be realised, sometimes a great value would be realised.’

The court was told the insurance company paid out £106,700 for the Faberge items, though a statement by its owners suggests they have sold for up to $3m as part of a full set, one of seven in existence.

Three ‘bespoke emerald isle sets’ previously sold for $2m, £2.8m, and $3m.

But Mr Windship added: ‘The difference of value may not affect the outcome in this case as this is a high value theft.’

Passing sentence the judge said: ‘The basis of your guilty plea is that you were acting opportunistically,’ adding: ‘I accept the degree of loss was wholly unexpected when you took the bag.’

But quoting a statement by the victim, she referred to her ‘particular shock and panic that a bag containing items of such value had been stolen.’

She noted the ‘incredible stress’ that the theft has had on Ms Dawson, adding: ‘She had called the police almost every day since the incident.’

Conticello has two previous convictions for seven offences, the judge said, most recently for theft, attempted theft, and going equipped for theft on 8 November 2025.

He was jailed for 27 months for the leading offence of theft, taking into account his ‘knowledge and intention’ and early guilty plea.

The Algerian was also given a six-day jail term for his fraud offences, to be served concurrently.

The judge ordered no costs beyond the statutory surcharge ‘owing to your inability to pay it’ following a ‘long custodial sentence.’

Conticello remained emotionless during the sentence and only said ‘Yes’ to confirm he understood the charges.

Detective Constable Arben Morina, who is leading the Met’s investigation, said: ‘Conticello thought nothing of helping himself to someone else’s possessions – and he now faces a prison sentence as a result of his greed.

‘This theft has had a significant impact on the victim, who was on her way home from a work event when she was targeted.

‘The defendant never explained to the police what he did with the expensive jewellery. Our investigation to find the egg and the watch is ongoing and we’d urge anyone with information to contact us.’