Refugee nicked two £94k watches

A refugee used covert tactics to distract Harrods staff and make off with two £94,000 watches, a court heard.

Libyan Nizar Kejman, 26, went into the world-famous store on March 14 and asked to look at two Audemars Piguet Royal Oak timepieces.

He then tricked the sales assistant by asking for a mirror to compare the watch he was wearing with another on display.

When the shop worker went to fetch one Kejman sprinted out the Knightsbridge store with both items, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.

Anna Renou, defending, said: ‘Mr Kejman is a Libyan national granted refugee status in November 2019.

‘There are pressures placed on the prison system in this time.

‘He recently lost his job which is why he committed these offences. His motivation was financial. Plainly he was always going to be caught. The items were recovered.

‘He has been under 24-hour lockdown in Wandsworth. It will reach capacity at some point.’

District Judge Samuel Goozee told Kejman: ‘You deserve greater punishment than I have the power to impose,’ and sent him to crown court for sentence.

‘He’s gone into Harrods and he’s targeted two high value watches,’ the judge said.

‘He put one on his wrist and was looking at a second watch when he asked a sales assistant for a mirror, distracting the sales assistant.

‘He then immediately ran from the store. That involves a degree of planning.

‘He has a history of dishonest offending. It’s so far beyond the harm guideline.’

The judge told Kejman: ‘You deliberately targeted Harrods and watches and used distraction techniques before fleeing from the store with them.

Kejman, of Glyn Avenue, Doncaster, was remanded into custody until his sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court for one count of theft at a date to be fixed.

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