Thieves Jailed for Richmond Jewellery Robbery That Led to Suicide

Key Points

• Three men—Kyle Mehmet, 40, from Rotherham; Michael Holmes, 35, from Sheffield; and Mannix Pedro, 38, from Woking—were found guilty of conspiring to steal more than £1m worth of stock from 247 Kettles, a jewellery and watch shop in Richmond, south-west London.
• The robbery occurred in May 2024, resulting in the theft of over 70 high-value watches valued at £1.1 million.
• Oliver White, the 27-year-old manager of the shop, was put in a headlock during the violent incident and took his own life the following day.
• Mehmet received an 18-year prison sentence, Holmes was jailed for 13 years, and Pedro was sentenced to 20 years at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday.
• The thieves meticulously planned the heist, including stealing a getaway car, obtaining cloned number plates, arranging a changeover car, and contacting the shop under false pretences to pose as customers.
• In distress after the robbery, White attempted to transfer £14,000 from his savings to his bosses at Kettles.
• White was described as someone who did not see “the risk or bad in anyone” and showed “real enthusiasm for his work at Kettles”.
• Following the robbery, White told his girlfriend that a man had accused him of “not putting up enough of a fight”.
• White went missing after the money transfer, ceasing communication via texts or calls, before a friend found his body in a wooded area he visited as a child.

Richmond, South West London (South London News) – February 7, 2026 [Recent Sentencing Date, 2026 Coverage] – Three men have been jailed following a brazen robbery at a high-end jewellery shop that culminated in the tragic suicide of its young manager. The incident at 247 Kettles in Richmond, south-west London, saw thieves steal over £1.1 million in luxury watches, leaving 27-year-old Oliver White in such despair that he took his own life the very next day. Woolwich Crown Court delivered lengthy sentences to the perpetrators on Friday, marking a grim end to a case that shocked the local community.

Who Were the Convicted Thieves and What Sentences Did They Receive?

Kyle Mehmet, aged 40 and from Rotherham, was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Michael Holmes, 35, of Sheffield, received 13 years behind bars. Mannix Pedro, 38, from Woking, faced the longest term of 20 years. As reported by Telegraph Reporters of The Telegraph, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed these sentences were handed down at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday following the men’s conviction for conspiring to steal more than 70 watches from 247 Kettles in May 2024.​

The CPS highlighted the gravity of the crime, noting how the robbery not only stripped the shop of valuable stock but also shattered lives. Mehmet, Holmes, and Pedro showed no mercy during the heist, with White subjected to a headlock as they made off with the haul.

What Happened During the Robbery at 247 Kettles?

The robbery unfolded with chilling precision at the Richmond watch shop. Jurors heard detailed evidence of the thieves’ preparations, as outlined in court proceedings covered extensively by The Telegraph.

These included stealing a getaway vehicle, sourcing cloned number plates to evade detection, positioning a changeover car at a pre-arranged spot, and even phoning the shop ahead under the guise of potential buyers to lower suspicions.​

Oliver White, the dedicated manager, bore the brunt of the violence. Put in a headlock by one of the robbers, he was left traumatised. Prosecutors revealed that, in a state of profound distress, White frantically tried to transfer £14,000 from his personal savings to his bosses at Kettles, perhaps in a desperate bid to make amends or cover losses.​

Why Did Oliver White Take His Own Life?

The aftermath proved devastating for White. Just one day after the May 2024 robbery, the 27-year-old ended his life. As detailed by Telegraph Reporters, White confided in his girlfriend that a man had accused him “of not putting up enough of a fight” post-robbery, adding to his emotional burden.​

Friends and family described White as trusting to a fault. Jurors learned he “did not see the risk or bad in anyone” and “showed real enthusiasm for his work at Kettles”. After wiring the money, White vanished, ignoring texts and calls. A close friend later discovered his body in a wooded area—a childhood haunt—highlighting the depth of his pain, as previously reported in The Telegraph’s coverage of the discovery.​

How Was the Conspiracy Uncovered and Prosecuted?

The trial laid bare the thieves’ sophisticated plot. Evidence presented to jurors painted a picture of calculated criminality, from vehicle thefts to deceptive reconnaissance. The CPS played a pivotal role, building a watertight case that led to the guilty verdicts.​

Woolwich Crown Court, known for handling major crime cases in London, became the stage for justice. Sentencing on Friday brought some closure, though the loss of White remains a profound scar. The CPS statement underscored the sentences’ severity, reflecting the crime’s human cost.

What Impact Did the Robbery Have on the Richmond Community?

Richmond, an affluent corner of south-west London, reeled from the brazen daytime raid. 247 Kettles, a fixture for luxury timepieces, suffered not just financially but emotionally. The theft of over 70 watches—valued at £1.1 million—ripped through the local business scene, as noted in The Telegraph’s initial reporting.​

Residents and shop owners voiced fears over rising audacious crimes targeting high-value retailers. White’s death amplified the outrage, turning a theft into a story of shattered lives. Community tributes poured in, remembering the enthusiastic young manager whose trust made him vulnerable.

Who Was Oliver White and What Was His Role at the Shop?

Oliver White, only 27, embodied dedication at 247 Kettles. Colleagues recalled his infectious passion for watches and unwavering positivity.

“He showed real enthusiasm for his work at Kettles,”

prosecutors told the court, emphasising his innocence in the face of evil.​

White’s naivety—”he did not see the risk or bad in anyone”—left him exposed during the robbery. His final acts, from the accusatory conversation relayed to his girlfriend to the desperate savings transfer, spoke of a man overwhelmed by guilt and violation.

What Preparations Did the Thieves Make for the Heist?

The plot’s intricacy stunned the court. Thieves stole a getaway car to ensure a swift escape. Cloned number plates masked their movements. A secondary changeover vehicle waited nearby for seamless handover. Posing as customers via prior contact, they lured staff into vulnerability.​

Such professionalism suggested a ring experienced in high-stakes thefts. Jurors pieced together this timeline, convicting Mehmet, Holmes, and Pedro of conspiracy.

Where and When Did Authorities Find Oliver White’s Body?

After going silent post-transfer, White’s whereabouts puzzled loved ones. A friend, knowing his fondness for a particular wooded area from childhood, searched there. The grim discovery confirmed the worst, as exclusively covered by The Telegraph in June 2024.​

The site, tied to White’s innocent past, contrasted brutally with his final moments. Police investigations linked it directly to the robbery’s trauma.

What Statements Have Authorities and Family Made?

The CPS issued a firm statement post-sentencing: Mehmet to 18 years, Holmes to 13, Pedro to 20. This reflected the crime’s premeditation and consequences.​

Family and friends mourned White’s loss. No direct quotes from them appear in initial reports, but court testimonies humanised him. The shop owners, recipients of his savings gesture, likely grapple with compounded grief.

Could This Case Influence Future Jewellery Store Security?

Richmond’s jewellers now eye bolstered defences. The heist’s details—reconnaissance, violence, escape logistics—serve as a blueprint for risks. Owners may invest in alarms, panic buttons, and staff training.

Police urge vigilance, citing this as a cautionary tale. For south-west London’s retail hub, safety trumps sales.

This case, rooted in The Telegraph’s comprehensive coverage by its reporters, underscores crime’s ripple effects. From a stolen fortune to a life lost, it demands reflection on vulnerability in trusted spaces. Mehmet, Holmes, and Pedro’s long sentences offer retribution, but White’s absence lingers.