Two asylum seekers who stole £25k gold Rolex in London's Soho allowed to walk free

18 July 2024, 10:34

  • Have you been a victim of watch theft? Tell LBC your story. Email crime@lbc.co.uk
Both of them received community orders
Both of them received community orders. Picture: LBC/Getty

By Emma Soteriou

Two asylum seekers who stole a £25,000 gold Rolex in London's West End last year have been allowed to walk free.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Yousef Garef, 21, and Amin Abdelkadar, 25, who both admitted to robbery, were spared jail and instead given community orders on Wednesday.

The pair attacked Kris Smith at around 2am in Soho on July 21, 2023.

Garef grabbed his gold Rolex Day Date watch while Abdelkadar covered his mouth to stop him shouting out for help.

Read more: Met Police officer numbers drop as force calls for 'thousands of applicants' in new recruitment drive

Read more: Man shot dead on residential street close to Liverpool training ground, as police launch murder investigation

Two asylum seekers who targeted a reveller for his £25,000 Rolex in London’s West End have walked free from court
Two asylum seekers who targeted a reveller for his £25,000 Rolex in London’s West End have walked free from court. Picture: Rolex

Donna Longcroft, prosecuting, said: "Mr Smith was approached by a male on an e-scooter, who was keenly interested in his watch.

"About 30 minutes later the victim was walking along Dean Street in Soho.

"He turned right onto Old Compton Street, and was approached by a male in a white bucket hat, who introduced himself as Yousef.

"They walked along Old Compton Street towards Wardour Street. Another male followed and spoke to Garef.

"Garef grabbed the right hand of the victim and put his hand over the watch... Abdelkadar hugged the victim and covered his mouth as Garef tried to take the watch.

"The victim was shouting: ‘Don’t take my watch! Don’t take my watch!'"

Yousef Garef
Yousef Garef. Picture: Met Police

Judge Adam Hiddleston said: "You followed and attacked a member of the public with the intent of stealing from him a valuable watch.

"Such offending has become a scourge of the West End.

"They have become an all too frequent occurrence in the past few years.

"These offences took place in the early hours of the morning. You were both acting as part of a group and you were targeting high value property."

Amin Abdelkadar
Amin Abdelkadar. Picture: Met police

Abdelkadar received a two-year community order and Garef received a three-year community order, with them both needing to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 40 hours of a rehabilitation activity.

A curfew has been put in place for six months, meaning they will not be able to leave the Home Office Asylum Centre in Islington between 9pm and 6am.

And as a result of a five-year criminal behaviour order, neither of them will be allowed to enter the western half of the City of Westminster or maintain contact with each other.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

"As our new poll shows, more people than ever are close to the brink."

Almost half of people ‘would struggle with bills if income suddenly lost’

Iran’s foreign minister has “categorically” denied reports linking Iranian nationals to an alleged terrorist scheme targeting the Israeli embassy in London.

Iran ‘categorically rejects’ reports of alleged Israeli embassy terror plot

City Workers And Royal Exchange

Bank of England to cut interest rates - with the announcement delayed due to VE Day

Nine arrested after group allegedly celebrated Hitler’s birthday at Oldham pub

Nine arrested after group allegedly celebrated Hitler’s birthday at Oldham pub

Pupils at Williamwood High School sit prelim exams in Glasgow, Scotland.

Pupils in poorest UK areas being ‘locked out’ of key A-Level subjects due to teacher shortage, charity says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy-UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer meeting in Rome

'This isn’t just history': Starmer links VE Day to Ukraine fight for freedom as Russia-Ukraine conflict continues

Home Office Designates Altrincham Hotel As Temporary Housing For Asylum Seekers

Asylum hotel cost 'triples to £4 million a day' as EU rejects UK's call for help in tackling small boats

Glenrothes in Scotland has been identified by a property website as Britain's most popular affordable town for families.

Glenrothes tops list as most affordable and popular locations for homes in Britain revealed

Workers in the rail and sections hot end rolling mill at the British Steel site in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

British Steel begins recruitment drive for first time since Government rescue as it prepares to ramp up production

Germany's new government plans to station more police at the border to curb illegal migration and even turn away some of the asylum seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy.

New German government to station more police at border and turn away asylum seekers in anti-migration drive

PSG v Arsenal - UEFA Champions League

Arsenal knocked out of Champions League after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in semi-final

Former Memphis police officers cleared of murdering motorist Tyre Nichols in beating death in the US

Former Memphis police officers cleared of murdering motorist Tyre Nichols in beating death in the US

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa poses upon his arrival for a meeting with French president at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on May 7, 2025.

Syrian President says mediated talks with Israel ‘ongoing’ as Tel Aviv continues attacks on Syria

Hungry dislocated Palestinians rush to food distribution kitchen and extend their empty containers to receive food in Gaza, Palestinian territories, on May 7, 2025.

World Central Kitchen says it has run out of food supplies in Gaza - as 'brutal' Israeli aid blockade continues

The popular animal enthusiast weighed in on the viral debate

'I can't believe I'm answering this': Steve Irwin's son weighs in on 'ridiculous' '100 men vs Gorilla' viral debate

Wayne and Coleen Rooney

Coleen Rooney breaks silence after Rebekah Vardy agrees to pay her massive costs from 'Wagatha Christie' case