Two jailed over multi-million pound gems heist

Two men have been jailed for robbing an exclusive London jewellery store and stealing several million pounds worth of gems.

At the Old Bailey yesterday, Judge Gordon ordered that 34-year-old Nebojsa Denic serve 15 years for the robbery of 47 items from Graff Jewellers in New Bond Street last year, and for possession of a firearm. Twenty-four-year-old Milan Jovetic received five-and-a-half years for conspiracy to commit robbery and handling stolen goods.

In total £23 million of gems were stolen during the raid, of which only £3 milion has been recovered.

On 20 May last year, Denic, who was smartly dressed and wearing a wig, entered the Graf's store and asked to be shown a selection of diamond jewellery. A short while later, another man, known as Man A, entered the store and joined Denic.

Denic drew a handgun from inside his jacket while Man A drew a screwdriver and both men shouted at the five members of staff.

They scooped up jewellery from the counters and ran out of the store. A security guard gave chase and detained Denic but during the struggle Denic’s firearm discharged, hitting a woman passerby and causing her minor injuries. Officers arrived to arrest Denic.

Police later arrested Jovetic at his home address and recovered a blue diamond hidden in a cold cream tub.

DI Andy Dunn, from the Met’s Flying Squad, which lead the investigation, said: "This was a planned raid on an exclusive jewellers by an organised Eastern European crime syndicate. They were prepared to use real firearms to commit the robbery and get away.

"It was very brave of the security guard to detain Denic and we were very lucky that more serious injuries were not sustained."

Man A is currently in the legal system in France and is wanted in connection with this inquiry.

(gmcg)