Moment Algerian illegal immigrant stalks wealthy Chinese holidaymaker leaving Mayfair restaurant to rip £37,000 Patek Philippe watch from his wrist

An illegal immigrant followed a wealthy tourist as he walked through Mayfair on an evening out and then launched a violent attack to tear his £37,000 watch from his wrist.

Algerian teenager Mohamed Sellaoui launched the attack after noticing that a Chinese diner eating with a friend at Langan’s Brasserie was wearing a Patek Philippe watch.

Sellaoui hid outside the restaurant until the couple left and then followed them as they walked towards Green Park station. He was accompanied by an accomplice who was waiting on the road before attacking the watch owner in a quieter corner.

The attack was captured on CCTV and police viewing the footage quickly identified Sellaoui because, although he was only 17, he was a “prolific criminal” and was known to the police.

The accomplice who was shown to have participated in the attack has not been caught yet.

Their victim was Jiangfeng Ni, a chemistry professor at Soochow University in China who was traveling to London on holiday.

Mr Ni later appeared as a witness at Sellauoi’s trial and told the jury how two young men approached him from behind in Stratton Street, Mayfair, just after he left the pub.

He said he was ‘backed into a corner’ and one of the thieves tried to rip off the watch from his left wrist.

Sellaoui (circled) hid in front of the restaurant until the tourist left and then followed him as he walked towards Green Park station. The thief was accompanied by an accomplice waiting on the road before attacking the watch owner in a quieter corner

Mr. Ni said that after taking the watch from the duo, they both started running.

“The person carrying my watch fell… he still had the watch in his hand,” the professor told jurors at Southwark Crown Court, with the help of a Chinese interpreter.

‘I went to approach them, but as I bent down, the person to my right punched me.

‘He was shaking his fist and [intimidating] voices.”

Mr Ni added: ‘He was trying to attack me and give his friend time to escape.’

Prosecutor Sue Obeney asked Mr. Ni how he felt about the attack.

He replied: ‘My mind was blank. I had to ask myself the question in my head: “What happened?”

With the help of an Arabic translator, Sellaoui pleaded not guilty to robbery but was convicted by a robbery jury after a three-day trial at Southwark Crown Court.

Judge Gregory Perrins told the teenager: ‘You must have absolutely no illusions that you will be punished and then deported.’

Mr Clements asked the judge to suspend the sentence, stating that Sellaoui was only 17 years old at the time of the crime.

But the judge said, ‘If he is here illegally, how can I get the sentence postponed?’ he said.

He detained Sellaoui before sentencing for the robbery, which occurred on February 26, 2024.

Detective Constable Kira Halson, who led the Met Police’s investigation, said: ‘Tackling violent crime like this is a key priority for the Met.

CCTV captured the moment Sellaoui and his accomplice grappled with the victim during the incident in February 2024

Mr Ni told jurors that two men approached him from behind as he was leaving Langan’s Brasserie on Stratton Street (pictured)

‘As part of our New Met plan for London we have set up local, proactive teams to deal with robberies.

‘CCTV investigations quickly identified Sellaoui as the suspect; A local police officer recognized him while on patrol and made the arrest.

‘Despite his young age, Sellaoui is a prolific criminal and I am pleased that we were able to achieve justice for the victim in this case.’

No further details about how he came to the country illegally or his previous crimes were read to the court.