Manager of luxury jewellers took his own life after violent robbery in Richmond

Tragic store manager Oliver White (Image: 247 Kettles/Instagram)

The manager of a luxury jewellers took his ain beingness “as a nonstop result” of a convulsive robbery successful which helium was tied up by thieves who made disconnected with watches valued astatine implicit £1.38 million, a assemblage heard.

Over 70 “high value” watches were taken during the raid connected the 247 Kettles store successful upmarket London territory of Richmond, south-west London, connected May 25 past year.

Junior Kunu, 30, and Mannix Pedro, 37, contradict their engagement successful conspiring with others to perpetrate the robbery and contiguous went connected proceedings astatine Woolwich Crown Court.

Opening the case, authoritative Edward Brown KC told however bureau manager Oliver White, 27, had been “tied up” during the robbery earlier the raiders fled with their lucrative haul.

But helium told jurors: “There was, however, a postscript to this robbery – and a genuinely tragic postscript.

“The pursuing day, truthful May 26, Oliver White – arsenic a nonstop effect of the robbery – took his ain life.”

dead 24 hours aboriginal - Oliver White (Image: -)

The income manager was recovered dormant the pursuing evening astatine the location wherever helium lived with his mum Amy and stepdad Mark successful Shepperton, Surrey.

Mr Brown told the tribunal the defendants played antithetic roles successful the plot, with Kunu having entered the premises to transportation retired the robbery, portion Pedro, who did not be the store connected May 25, was “closely progressive successful the readying and execution”, including the usage of a stolen Audi arsenic 1 of 2 getaway cars.

Two different men, Michael Ashman and Kyle Bowrage, are alleged to person been progressive successful the conspiracy – some of whom detectives judge person managed to fly the country, Mr Brown added.

The assemblage heard however Mr White was archetypal contacted by the conspirators done Instagram and past aboriginal connected WhatsApp astir 3 months earlier the robbery.

The 2 days earlier the heist, 3 men, including Bowrage, visited 247 Kettles to presumption watches with the imaginable of making a acquisition aft arranging the assignment via Instagram, the tribunal heard.

Mr Brown said this sojourn was an “aborted robbery” oregon a “recce” for the cognition connected May 25.

None of the stolen watches person been recovered, the authoritative said.

In a connection issued done Surrey Police aft Mr White’s death, his household said helium had been “traumatised and incapable to speak” aft the incident.

“As a household we are devastated by the nonaccomplishment of our beautiful, funny, loyal boy, who lit up each country helium walked into,” they added.

Kunu, of Mitcham, south-west London, and Pedro, of Woking, Surrey, some contradict the charges.

The proceedings continues.