Masked robbers attacked Channel 4 star with hammers in £200,000 jewellery raid

Two robbers who attacked a personage jeweller with hammers successful a £200,000 raid are facing lengthy situation sentences.

James Dixon, 42, and Thomas Loring, 41, were captured connected CCTV arsenic they ransacked Ian Towning’s store successful Chelsea and deed him connected the caput with a hammer connected March 26.

Mr Towning, 76, a prima of the Channel 4 amusement ‘Posh Pawn’, was cornered successful his Bourbon Hanby Antiques store arsenic the raiders grabbed valuables – including a £35,000 sapphire and diamond necklace.

He was near bleeding and different subordinate of staff, besides successful his 70s, needed stitches aft the attack.

Dixon, of Pimlico, southwest London, admitted conspiracy to perpetrate robbery, conspiracy to steal, robbery of currency and possession of an violative weapon.

Loring, of Eltham, southeast London was recovered blameworthy of conspiracy to perpetrate robbery astatine Kingston Crown Court, aft the assemblage deliberated for conscionable 42 minutes.

Dixon and Loring were portion of an organised transgression web based successful southbound London and targeted currency successful transit vans and station offices.

They were arrested aft an onslaught connected currency successful transit idiosyncratic astatine a Post Office connected the Old Kent Road connected June 19, during which they punched and kicked the guard, stealing £26,000 successful the process.

After the raid Dixon had spent much than £2,500 currency astatine Lacoste and Hugo Boss connected Regent Street earlier calling 1 of his 3 girlfriends to prime him up.

Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier of the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad said Dixon had been offending since helium was a teenager.

DCI Hillier added: ‘We are going to speech to the justice up of sentencing about Dixon’s dangerousness truthful that erstwhile helium is yet released determination volition beryllium enhanced probation and licensing aspects due to the fact that it’s truly important to amusement his past past of offending and the interaction it’s had connected his victims and the assemblage arsenic a whole.’

The brace look condemnation astatine Kingston Crown Court successful the caller year.

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