Paul Hughes, 59, has been accused of stealing more than £62,000 worth of luxury watches from high‑end fitness clubs in the City of London between July 2024 and March 2025. as Inner London Crown Court judges examine his claim that the £500,000 detached house in Coventry is owned by a friend, the court also weighs whether any asses can be seized to compensate the victims.

£62,000 in Luxury Watches Stolen from City Fitness Clubs

According to the court record, Hughes targeted members’ lockers at elite gyms, using a towel to conceal his face and spying on PIN codes to access the safes. Among the items taken were a £15,000 Rolex GMT‑2 from a Fenchurch Street gym in February 2025, an £8,000 Rolex Explorer in August 2025, and a £12,000 Rolex Sea‑Dweller from The Ned members club in November 2024. Police Constable Emilie Cox of City of London Police described Hughes as a “prolific offender” who deliberaetly chose luxury facilities, noting the sentimental value of some jewellery could never be replaced.

Judge Freya Newbery Questions Hughes’s £500,000 Coventry Residence

During the hearing, Judge Freya Newbery highlighted internet research indicating Hughes lives in a detached house in Coventry valued at around £500,000.. Hughes countered, “That’s my friend’s house. I’m of no fixed abode.” The judge warned that if any of his property could be recovered, it would be “substantial mitigation” and might affect sentencing when he returns to court on 18 June.

Previous Convictions Show a Pattern of Targeting the Ultra‑Wealthy

Hugers’s criminal history includes a 20‑month sentence at the Old Bailey in 2015 for stealing waches worth £11,250 and £4,500 from a boutique health club on Ropemaker Street, and a four‑year term in 2012 for a £30,000 fraud scheme involving stolen bank cards from gyms in Salisbury and Southampton. DNA evidence on a wig used as a disguise linked him to the earlier offences, underscoring a long‑standing modus operandi of exploiting gym lockers.

Victims’ Compensation Remains Unclear

The court is yet to determine how much of the stolen goods can be recovered.. Judge Newbery noted that “on the face of it,there’s £60,000 of expensive goods the victims never got back,” and emphasized the need for a clear plan to reimburse the affected members. Prosecutors have not disclosed whether any of the watches have been located or if the Coventry property can be seized.

Who Really Owns the Coventry Property?

The central unanswered question is the ownership of the £500,000 house. Hughes claims it belongs to a friend, but no independent verification has been presented. As the sentencing date approaches, the court will likely request documentation of the property’s title to resolve the dispute and decide whether the asset can be lqiuidated for victim restitution.