Ali Sharif, 33,and Mohamed Benioua, 30, carried out at least two coordinated robberies targeting affluent victims in central London's nightlife districts. Sharif was sentenced to three years and four months, while Benioua received two years, according to court proceedings reported by prosecutors.

The £18,000 Mayfair watch grab and its orchestration

In October 2023, the pair executed a calculated robbery outside Mister Nice restaurant in Mayfair, targeting company boss Dimitrios Triadis. According to the prosecution, Benioua approached Triadis asking for a light, then wrenched an £18,000 Rolex from his wrist while Sharif played a supporting role—flanking the victim's female companion and attempting to trip Triadis to aid the getaway. Prosecutor Carol Summers told the court that the pair had deliberately positioned themselves in the busy nighttime economy to identify targets, initially approaching other well-dressed pedestrians before settling on Triadis. Fortunately, as the court heard, Triadis recovered his watch.

Four days later: the iPhone robbery and umbrella confrontation

Just four days after the Mayfair incident, Sharif struck again. On October 30, 2023, he snatched an iPhone from Kentaro Ikegami outside Selfridges on Oxford Street while Ikegami waited for a night bus. according to Ms. Summers' account , Ikegami chased Sharif and the pair ended up on the ground, with Ikegami sustaining scratches to his neck during the struggle. The confrontation escalated when Ikegami's female companion threw her coffee over both men; Sharif then grabbed an umbrella, snapped it in half, and wielded it as a weapon before eventually handing the phone back to Ikegami.

Bail failures and the June 2025 arrest warrant

After the first robbery, Sharif was arrested and released on bail while living at the Holiday Inn Express in Oxford. Following the second incident just days later, he was released on bail again—a decision that proved costly when he failed to attend his court hearing. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and Sharif remained at large until his eventual re-arrest in June 2025. The delay between his crimes and final custody raised questions about the speed of the bail and warrant system in handling repeat street offences.

Judge's assessment:immigration status and resort to theft

During sentencing, Judge Martin Griffith addressed Sharif's background, noting that he had arrived from Palestine nearly two decades earlier but appeared unable to secure legitimate employment due to his immigration status. The judge stated, according to court records,that Sharif "turned to theft to give you the money that you needed to live." Griffith also referenced the broader pattern of phone and watch thefts plaguing London, noting that even U.S. officials have commented on street crime in the capital. The judge rejected any suggestion of remorse, pointing to evidence of planning—including Sharif's deliberate positioning in the bus queue not to board but to identify a target with something worth stealing. Benioua, from Gravesend, Kent, admitted robbery and received a two-year sentence.