Career criminal who targeted wealthy gym-goers by ransacking their lockers of bank cards and jewellery is facing jail… again
A career criminal who has been targeting wealthy City gym-goers for years is facing prison for his latest crime spree.
Paul Hughes, 59, makes a living by looting lockers full of bank cards and jewelery while his wealthy victims exercise across the square mile of London.
Hughes and a friend stole two watches worth more than £15,000 after breaking open the cupboards of a boutique health club on Ropemaker Street.
He was recognized by CCTV personnel when he returned to the scene a few days later.
The manager alerted the cops, who raided the changing rooms and caught Hughes with a bag of loan deals to pawn high-value watches, a screwdriver, two gym guest cards and someone else’s driver’s license.
Hughes was sentenced to 20 months in prison at the Old Bailey in 2015.
He also targeted gym users in Salisbury and Southampton, using their bank cards to drain more than £30,000 from his victims’ bank accounts three years ago.
Hughes was jailed for four years at Winchester Crown Court in 2012 for the spree after his DNA was found on the wig he wore as part of his disguise.
Paul Hughes, 59, faces jail again for making a living by stealing bank cards and jewelery from lockers at luxury gyms in London. He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one count of fraud at the Old Bailey today
City of London Police release CCTV footage of Hughes at the center of his crime spree
He pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one count of fraud when he returned to the Old Bailey today.
The offenses relate to the theft of a watch on November 3 last year, as well as another watch, wedding ring, wallet, bank cards and driver’s license belonging to Gregory Curtis on February 10.
Hughes also admitted fraud involving withdrawing cash from ATMs using Mr Curtis’ bank cards.
He had previously admitted five further thefts, including the theft of an £8,000 Rolex belonging to Toby Gibbs on 24 July 2024, and a £6,000 Omega Seamaster on 21 October 2024.
Hughes also stole a £15,000 Rolex GMT2 on February 19, 2025, an £8,000 Rolex Explorer six months later on August 7, and a £12,000 Rolex Sea Dweller from a customer at The Ned, a members’ club in Poultry in the City, on November 3.
Also stole a Tag Aqua Racer Blackface worth £2,000, an 18k platinum and white gold wedding ring worth £2,857 and a Thomas Sabo silver chain worth £200 from a gym locker on March 10, 2026.
Prosecutor Gregor McKinley stated that Hughes should be sentenced to three years in prison because the bald and bespectacled Hughes appeared in court via video link.
Judge Lynn Griffin ordered a report and remanded Hughes into custody ahead of sentencing on June 4.
Constable Emilie Cox, of the City of London Police’s Mass Crime Unit, said: ‘Hughes is a prolific criminal who deliberately chooses to target luxury premises, gaining access to changing rooms and stealing from the lockers of people exercising in the gym.
‘The items he stole were very valuable and some of the jewelery was incredibly sentimental for the victims and unfortunately will never be replaced.
‘People visiting gyms expect their belongings to be safe in their lockers, and they don’t expect anyone to look over their shoulder and steal their PIN.
‘Unfortunately, we know this is a method used by prolific criminals.’
