Man charged with theft after £150,000 violin ‘taken from north London pub’

A man has been charged with theft after a rare violin worth £150,000 was allegedly stolen from a north London bar.

Ahmed Sami Madour, 46, is accused of taking the antique instrument from violinist David Ibanez while he was dining with a friend at the Marquess Tavern on Canonbury Street. The violin, manufactured in Florence in 1740, was loaned to Mr. Ibanez for performances by the Philharmonic Orchestra.

Madour, of no fixed address but from Leytonstone, east London, faces two charges of theft. He allegedly stole Mr Ibanez’s violin on February 18 last year and his £4,000 guitar in Hackney the same day.

Madour was charged on January 19 and appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court last week, with his trial scheduled for May 10, 2027, the Metropolitan Police said on Monday.

Court records show Madour was released on unconditional bail pending trial after pleading not guilty to both theft charges.

“The theft of a violin valued at £150,000 was reported to the Met on Tuesday 18 February 2025,” Scotland Yard said.

“Stolen from the Marquess Tavern in Islington.

“Madour was arrested on suspicion of theft on Wednesday, June 25.

“He was detained by police and later released on bail pending further investigation.”

At the time of the alleged theft of the violin, Pc Michael Collins of the Met’s local policing team in Camden made an appeal for information.

“The victim, a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, said the piece was worth more than £150,000 and was made in Florence in 1740,” he said.

“It is incredibly valuable and priceless to the victim.”