Three men who plotted a £1.1 million jewellery shop robbery which led its manager to take his own life have been jailed.

Kyle Mehmet, 40, Michael Holmes, 35 and Mannix Pedro, 38, were found guilty of conspiring to rob more than 70 watches from 247 Kettles, a retail store specialising in high-value watches, in Richmond, south-west London, on May 25 2024.

Mehmet, of Rotherham, was sentenced to 18 years, Holmes, of Sheffield, was sentenced to 13 years, and Pedro, of Woking, was sentenced to 20 years at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Oliver White, 27, who was tied up and put in a headlock during the incident, took his own life the next day as a result of the raid.

placeholder image — During the men’s trials, jurors heard evidence of the detailed planning that conspirators had put into carrying out the robbery. | James Hardisty

During the men’s trials, jurors heard evidence of the detailed planning that conspirators had put into carrying out the robbery.

This included stealing a getaway car, obtaining cloned licence plates, having a changeover car ready and waiting at an agreed location, and contacting the watch shop under the pretences of making a purchase.

In a state of distress, Mr White tried to transfer £14,000 in savings to his bosses after the theft, prosecutors said.

Jurors heard he did not see “the risk or bad in anyone” and “showed real enthusiasm for his work at Kettles”.

But Mr White told his girlfriend he had been accused by a man “of not putting up enough of a fight”.

Not long after transferring the cash, he went missing and stopped replying to texts or calls. His body was found by a friend in a wooded area he visited as a child.

Paul Goddard, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The greed of these three men has had considerable, and tragic, consequences.

“Not only did the business they targeted suffer the loss of over one million pounds’ worth of stock, Oliver White, who was working at the premises, took his own life the following day as a direct result of the robbery.

“Our thoughts are with Oliver’s loved ones for the terrible loss they have suffered.

“Mannix Pedro was a key organiser of the robbery and afterwards helped to dispose of the haul.

“Meanwhile, Kyle Mehmet and another man carried the robbery out, stealing more than 70 watches and tying up Mr White, while Michael Holmes waited nearby.

“Mehmet, having made good his escape in a stolen car, then met with Pedro and Holmes, before they travelled together to Colchester.

“This was a complex and difficult case, but by carefully putting all of the evidence together, prosecutors were able to build a comprehensive picture of each defendant’s involvement and present a compelling case, ultimately leading to their convictions.”