THREE robbers have been found guilty over a £1.1million heist after tying up a watch dealer who took his own life the next day.
Oliver White, 27, was put in a headlock during the raid at the 247 Kettles shop in Richmond, South West , on May 25 last year.
Oliver White took his own life after a robbery at a jewellery shopCredit: Central News
He was put in a headlocked and tied up during the raid
He was tragically found dead the following day after driving to a wooded area he used to visit as a child.
Woolwich Crown Court heard he was devastated by allegations he did nothing to resist the raiders that he killed himself.
Kyle Mehmet, 40, and Michael Holmes, 34, denied but were convicted of conspiracy to rob by the jury.
Mannix Pedro, 37, was convicted of the same charge earlier this year after he was “closely involved in the planning and execution” of the raid.
Junior Kunu, 31, who was also on trial, was cleared of conspiracy to rob after he claimed the heist was staged.
More than 70 “high-value” worth £1.38million were taken from the store in the raid – including a £30,000 Rolex Sky Dweller.
Shop owners Conor Thornton and Joe Riley were in the US at the time but immediately flew home for an “intense” meeting with Oliver, which was attended by a third businessman, Fred Sines.
Watch dealer Sines, 37, was handed a suspended jail sentence earlier this year for trying to sell the £4.3m gold toilet stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019.
His dad is Romany gypsy Maurice Sines, a caravan park millionaire who previously had a close association with Ireland’s most notorious criminals, the Kinahan Cartel.
The court heard 247 Kettles was run by the dad and son as a “front for organised crime” and £100,000 bounties were placed on the heads of the robbers.
Following the tense meeting, Oliver offered to transfer £14,000 he had been saving up to put a deposit down on a flat with his girlfriend Alana Dredge to compensate for the stolen jewellery before vanishing.
After friends and family got no reply, a pal began searching the wooded area and discovered Oliver’s body.
Oliver’s girlfriend Alana Dredge paid tribute following his death
She told the court he was ‘heartbroken’Credit: Central News
The court heard Mehmet had tied up and held Oliver in a headlock during the raid, while Junior Kunu, 31, swiped the watches.
Holmes had taken part in a “dry run” at the shop two days before the raid.
Businessman Pedro was “closely involved in the planning and execution” of the raid and supplied a stolen Audi as one of several getaway cars.
He also suggested the heist was an inside job along with Mehmet.
A fifth suspect, Michael Ashman, is still on the run.
The court heard Oliver had prepared trays of watches believing the robbers were genuine customers.
Prosecutor Ed Brown KC said: “Suddenly they stood up and started grabbing the watches.
“Mr White described how one of them grabbed his hands to stop him moving and pinned them across his chest and then had his hands bound using zip ties.
“He was then put in a headlock.
“Having done so they left, leaving him in shock and with visible reddening around his neck and wrist.”
The court heard when Oliver spoke to police, he “appeared shocked” and was “still processing the events”.
Mr Brown added: “He was however doing everything to help the police and to recover any watches they could.
“None of the watches have been recovered and for reasons that will become clear they were not insured.”
His girlfriend Alana told the court the accusations that he was in on the raid “broke him” as it was “clear he loved the work” at 247 Kettles.
She said: “Even whilst we were on holiday and at weekends Olly would be working and trying to close deals with his clients.”
After the raid, Alana recalled how Oliver was “really shaken up”.
She continued: “He didn’t want to talk about what happened, he hated the fact the video had been posted online. He just said he wanted a cuddle.”
Mr Brown confirmed during the trial Mehmet, Kunu and Holmes have been issued with “threat to life warning notices” by police after bounties were placed on their heads.
Judge Philip Shorrock said he will sentence all three men on a date to be fixed.
Kunu, pictured top, with Kyle MehmetCredit: Central News
Pedro was behind the planning and execution of the raidCredit: Central News
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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