Ian Towning, the 78-year-old antiques dealler known for appearances on Dickinson's Real Deal and Channel 4's Posh Pawn, has closed his Bourbon-Hanby emporium off Chelsea's King's Road after more than 50 years of trading. according to the report, Towning directly blamed London Mayor Sadiq Khan for a 'scandalous' failure to tcakle rising violent crime, citing a 2024 raid in which he was hit over the head with a hammer and up to £365,000 in jewellery was stolen.

The hammer attack that cost £365,000

According to the source, Towning and his security guard, Mark Simmons, were both left bloodied after armed robbers struck the Chelsea store in 2024. The dealer was hit over the head with a hammer during the incident, and thieves made off with jewellery worth as much as £365,000. Towning said the attack left him with head injuries, contributing to his decision to shut down the emporium he had run with his husband, Les Barrett, since 1997.

Why a shared Lucknow background didn't prevent disappointment

Towning told the outlet that he had initially thought Khan would be 'good news' for London because both men share roots in Lucknow, India. But he said the mayor had 'royally let us down' after his store was targeted in two armed robberies in recent years. The dealer's criticism underscores a broader disconnect between the mayor's public safety pledges and the lived experience of small business owners in high-end retail districts like Chelsea, as reported.

Two armed robberies and a 'breaking point' for the TV antiques expert

Beyond the 2024 hammer attack , Towning reported a second armed robbery at the same location.. He said an increase in shoplifting and fraud had ultimately driven him to 'breaking point.' The dealer,who has sold treasures at the Chelsea Antiques Market since the 1970s, vowed not to return to the capital because violence was getting 'bigger and bigger.' The source notes that Towning is still working as a consultant, but his departure from the streets of Chelsea marks the end of an era for the antiques scene.

Still hoping for a safe King's Road

Despite closing the doors, Towning expressed a lingering hope that the day will come when it is safe to walk down Chelsea's King's Road again. The report does not include a response from Mayor Khan's office to the specific allegations. Questions remain about whether the mayor's policing strategy will address the concentration of violent robberies targeting luxury goods retailers,and what data exists on the scale of such crimes in the borough .