Mayfair armed raid ‘terrified’ staff - Jurors see CCTV footage of Graff Jewellers robbery

Published: 23 April 2010
by DAVID ST GEORGE

JURORS have watched CCTV footage showing the chilling moments a shop assistant at the world famous Graff jewellers in New Bond Street had a pistol thrust in her back during a £40million raid.

The images showed how a nine-strong gang carried out a “meticulously planned” robbery last August, Woolwich Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts said some of the raiders, heavily made up to hide their identities, posed as wealthy customers to gain access to the shop premises.

Others were positioned in the street in vehicles to block traffic and prevent police pursuit of their getaway.

Graff staff member Petra Ehnar was forced to empty display cabinets while her manager, Martin Legatt, was lying on the floor with a pistol aimed at his head, while other members of staff were also held at gunpoint.

Ms Ehnar was forced to put gems into a bag which was handed to a gang member on a motorcyclist outside the shop. None of the gems have been recovered.

Ms Ehnar told the court: “I could feel the gun. I felt the men would shoot, I really did.”

She told how she heard a warning shot fired in the street to prevent a security guard from intervening. 

More shots were fired from a BMW as gang members made their escape.

“It is the most terrifying experience a person can be put through,” Ms Ehnar added.

Nine men are standing trial following the raid. Two of them, Aman Kassaye, 24, and Craig Calderwood, 27, were armed when they went into Graff after having their identities altered to make them look older, it is claimed. Both of no fixed address, they deny charges of conspiracy to rob and possession of firearms.

Solomon Beyene, 25, and Benjamin McFarlane, 22, from St John’s Wood, Clinton Mogg, 42, from Bournemouth, Courtney Lawrence, 31, of Holland Park, Gregory Jones, 30, of Harrow, Thomas Thomas, 45, of East Finchley, and David Joseph, 23, of Camberwell, deny taking part in the robbery.