Whiskey executive whose designer handbag containing £2million Faberge egg was snatched from a Soho pub is ‘very upset’ by the theft, says her mother

The mother of a woman who stole a designer bag containing a Fabergé egg worth £2 million from outside a London bar said she was “very sorry” for the theft.

Rosie Dawson, manager of premium bands at Craft Irish Whiskey, was targeted by Algerian drug addict Enzo Conticello, 29, as she greeted a friend outside the Dog and Duck bar on Bateman Street.

Conticello had ‘absolutely no idea’ the bag contained a rare Fabergé egg and watch, which had been displayed at an event earlier in the evening, and picked it up.

Conticello also took his victim’s laptop and credit cards, which he used to buy drinks and cigarettes for himself at a nearby Co-Op and Nisa Local.

Rosie’s mother Leslie Dawson told the Daily Mail today: ‘Rosie is very upset about what happened. The story went viral.”

To this day, the Fabergé egg and watch, which belonged to the Craft Irish Whiskey Company, have never been found, and Conticello claimed he “gave them away.”

Speaking from the family’s stunning riverside detached house near Exeter, Devon, Ms Dawson said she ‘didn’t know’ why insurers had paid the drinks company just £106,700 for the damage.

After the theft on November 7, 2024, both the egg and the watch remain missing.

Fabergé egg (pictured) stolen by Algerian drug addict Enzo Conticello, who was sentenced to more than two years in prison for the crime

Conticello (pictured) was convicted on three counts of fraud for theft and false statements

On November 20, a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dealing in stolen goods after questions were put to the company that ordered the eggs and watch about the value of the items – but Scotland Yard took no further action.

London has been the scene of numerous luxury thefts in recent years; Algerian citizens also stand out among the suspects appearing in court. Robbers often operate as part of organized crime networks and items are quickly exported to be sold abroad.

Conticello was sentenced to three counts of fraud for theft and false representation after using debit cards to buy cigarettes and other items from supermarkets in the Soho area.

Prosecutor Julian Winship told the sentencing hearing: ‘On 7 November 2024, just before 10pm, [Ms Dawson] I went to the Dog and Duck bar in Soho.

‘She was in the designated smoking area outside the building, placed her bag on the ground between her legs and a few minutes later realized her bag was no longer there.’

Southwark Crown Court heard it was found in Ms Dawson’s purse after picking up Fabergé items to display at a business event earlier that evening.

Inside the £1,600 bag was an emerald-encrusted Fabergé egg and Fabergé watch belonging to Ms Dawson’s employers.

The package also included an Apple laptop worth £1,500, Apple AirPods, a shop voucher worth £350, keys, three of Ms Dawson’s bank cards, make-up worth £200, a Mulberry card holder worth £150 and £20 cash.

Conticello (pictured) also took Ms Dawson’s laptop and credit cards, which she used to buy drinks and cigarettes for herself from a nearby Co-Op and Nisa Local.

Mr Winship said Conticello ‘wanted to make easy money’ and prosecutors accepted he did not intend to steal the Fabergé egg and accompanying watch.

Insurers paid the drinks company £106,700 for the damage, but the prosecutor said only seven Fabergé sets were available, which included a jeweled egg, watch, whiskey bottle, cigar and humidor.

Each of the three sets had sold for between $2 million and $3 million, and the company was seeking similar amounts for the remaining four sets.

The walnut wooden cabinet, which contained a bottle of 30-year-old whiskey and gold jewelery in its central compartment, sold for $2.8 million (£2.1 million) in 2024, with the firm calling it the ‘most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold’.

When Judge Lady Recorder Kate Livesey KC asked what Conticello did with the stolen items, Kate Porter-Windley, defending, said: ‘He gave the bag to someone to buy drugs.

‘He was addicted to cocaine at the time, I’m pleased to say he’s been clean for eight months now, although at the time he had just given up the bag.’

He said the Algerian had “absolutely no idea” what the Fabergé items were, adding: “I must admit that I did not know what the item was, I had to research it myself.”

‘And certainly Mr. Conticello didn’t know about it. He had absolutely no idea of ​​its value, if at all.”

Miss Dawson’s (pictured) £1,600 purse contained an emerald-encrusted Fabergé egg and a Fabergé watch belonging to her employer

But the judge said: ‘This is quite an unusual piece, isn’t it?’

Miss Porter-Windley replied: ‘To be fair, Mr Conticello, who was a poor sleeper, failed to notice.

‘These offenses were committed in circumstances where the defendant appeared to want to make easy money and his use of the cards demonstrates exactly that.

‘He is unlikely to be a man of significant means.’

He added that he felt “genuine remorse” for his actions and that he “didn’t want to be someone who was labeled a purse snatcher”. ‘This is definitely not something he would want to do again.’

Conticello looked uneasy and had his arms crossed, wearing the gray sweatpants he wore to prison today.

Prosecutor Julian Winship said: ‘The Crown is not contradicted by the fact that they did not intend to steal the Fabergé egg and the Fabergé watch.

‘But the nature of this type of theft is that sometimes little value is obtained, sometimes great value is obtained.’

The court noted the “incredible stress” the theft caused Ms Dawson (pictured)

The court was told the insurance company paid £106,700 for the Fabergé items, but they were sold for up to $3 million as part of a complete set, one of seven available, according to the owners’ affidavit.

Three ‘bespoke emerald island sets’ have previously sold for $2 million, £2.8 million and $3 million.

But Mr Winship added: ‘As this was a high value theft the difference in value may not affect the outcome in this case.’

Passing sentence, the judge told Conticello: ‘The basis for your guilty plea is that you acted opportunistically.

‘I accept that the degree of loss was completely unexpected when you received the bag.’

Quoting the victim’s statement, the judge expressed his ‘particular shock and panic at the theft of a bag containing such valuable items’.

Noting the ‘incredible stress’ the burglary had caused Ms Dawson, he added: ‘She had called the police almost every day since the incident.’

The judge said Conticello had two previous convictions for seven offences, the most recent of which were burglary, attempted burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary on November 8 last year.

Taking into account his ‘knowledge and intent’ and early confession, he was sentenced to 27 months in prison for theft.

Conticello was also given a six-day prison sentence, to be served concurrently, for the fraud charge.

The judge decided that no fee should be charged other than the legal surcharge ‘due to your failure to pay’ following the ‘long prison sentence’.

Conticello remained emotionless during the sentencing and only said ‘yes’ to confirm he understood the charges.

Detective Constable Arben Morina, who led the Metropolitan Police investigation, said: ‘Conticello had no intention of confiscating someone else’s belongings and now faces prison time for his greed.

‘This theft had a significant impact on the victim, who was targeted on his way home from a work event.

‘The defendant never explained to the police what he did with the expensive jewellery. ‘Our search to find the egg and watch continues and we would urge anyone with information to contact us.’

Conticello, also known as Hakin Boudjenoune, who was in custody, admitted his crimes in February.

After Conticello pleaded guilty to the charges, Judge Martin Griffiths told him: ‘I suppose it was a great surprise for you to discover that egg.

‘I don’t know exactly what he did with it, but I hope we’ll find out.’

The court did not hear exactly how much the Fabergé egg and watch were worth, but the items were said to be worth a minimum of $2.8 million.

The judge had previously stated that he wanted to be ‘sure’ of the value of the jewel and added: ‘Unfortunately, you can’t ask Mr. Fabergé, can you?’

Metropolitan Police detectives traveled to Belfast to arrest the suspect after the Police Service of Northern Ireland detained him on an unrelated theft offence.

Officers continue to appeal for information about missing items and are appealing for information from anyone who may have offered them for sale or has information about their current whereabouts.