British biking star Mark Cavendish and his spouse have been subjected to a knifepoint theft whereas at residence with their kids, with one masked raider threatening to stab the athlete, a court heard on Tuesday.
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The intruders made off with two Richard Mille watches, valued at a mixed £700 000 (R14.2 million) from the property, about 25 miles northeast of London, in the early hours of November 27, 2021, the court was told.
Cavendish collectively owns the report for stage wins on the Tour de France, with 34 victories to his identify, and likewise received an Olympic silver on the observe on the 2016 Rio Games.
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The 37-year-old and his spouse Peta have been in mattress with considered one of their younger kids after they have been awoken by noise, mentioned Edward Renvoize, opening the prosecution case at Chelmsford Crown Court.
One intruder “produced a knife and threatened to stab him up in front of his children,” he mentioned.
“At this point there were three in the room and they began asking where the watches were.”
Renvoize mentioned two watches have been taken, one valued at £400 000 and the opposite at £300 000.
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Renvoize mentioned Peta Cavendish’s cellphone was discovered outdoors the property, and that the “misplacing of that telephone by one of the robbers” was an “error in what was a carefully planned and executed robbery”.
Mark Cavendish trial anticipated to final 2 weeks
He mentioned forensic examination of the cellphone led to the invention of DNA attributed to 28-year-old Ali Sesay, of east London, who had “pleaded guilty to the offence of robbery already”.
Renvoize mentioned police “were able to identify a number of other individuals who appeared to have been in communication with a telephone belonging to Mr Sesay”.
Romario Henry, 31, and 28-year-old Oludewa Okorosobo, who stay in London, each deny two counts of theft and are on trial.
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They are accused of robbing Cavendish of a watch, cellphone and protected, and of robbing the athlete’s spouse, described as a “successful model and media personality” of a watch, cellphone and suitcase.
Prosecutor Renvoize mentioned the “robbers were armed with large knives”, “had concealed their identity with balaclavas” and “meted out violence to Mark Cavendish”.
“It’s quite clear the assailants were interested in obtaining watches and once they got the watches they left the premises with very little else,” he added.
The trial is estimated to final round two weeks.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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