Engineer Behind £103k Jewellery Heist Walks Free

A lift engineer who stole luxury watches and jewellery worth more than £103,000 from a £7 million Belgravia mansion has avoided jail.

Jacques Woods, 25, was part of a team servicing the 8,000 sq ft property in West Eaton Place — complete with a high-speed modern lift — on 28 June 2021 when he pocketed two designer watches and a Cartier ring.

The stolen items included a silver-and-gold Rolex, a Patek Philippe 715 in opaline and gold, and a white-and-rose-gold Cartier Love ring, together valued at £103,250. None have been recovered.

Cleaners spotted Woods wandering into bedrooms and other off-limits areas, prompting them to call police. Officers found photos of the missing items on his phone.

Prosecutor Sue Obeney told Southwark Crown Court that Woods committed the thefts to fund a Class A drug addiction, later selling the items on. Representing himself, Woods said his memory of that period was "hazy" and claimed he was now drug-free, living in a caravan on a friend's cattle farm.

Judge Mark Weekes said there was "some degree of planning" involved, adding: "Even for someone of high net worth, that is a lot of money."

Woods, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, admitted burglary and theft at an earlier hearing. He was handed a 12-month prison term suspended for 18 months. The judge warned: "This was serious offending. You should have that sword hanging over your head as it will encourage you to stay out of trouble."

Whitestone Solicitors