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A man is facing trial for allegedly participating in a knifepoint robbery at the residence of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish. He surrendered to authorities 18 months after a photo appeal was made.
Attorney Edward Renvoize reported that a group of individuals wearing balaclavas and carrying large knives threatened a couple and inflicted harm on Mark Cavendish in order to force him to comply with their requests.
According to Mr Renvoize, the burglars stole two expensive Richard Mille watches, with a combined value of £700,000, during the break-in at approximately 2:30am on November 27, 2021 while the couple’s children were present.
He stated that two individuals have been found guilty for their participation in the crimes that occurred at the residence of the athlete and his wife Peta Cavendish in Ongar, Essex.
The lawyer stated that police released photographs of a different individual, Jo Jobson, who is currently on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. These photographs were released by January 2022 and indicated that Jobson was a suspect.
The individual, Jobson, 27 years old and without a permanent residence, turned himself in to Chelmsford Police Station approximately 18 months later in June 2023.
Jobson is accused of committing two acts of robbery, specifically taking a watch, two phones, and a safe from Mark Cavendish and a watch, phone, and suitcase from Peta Cavendish. He denies these accusations.
Judge Timothy Walker informed the jury that there may have been media coverage of the case, both presently and in the past.
If you have encountered any of them, please disregard the message.
They do not contribute to your evaluation of the evidence.
According to Mr Renvoize, there has been a significant amount of media attention due to the celebrity status of the victims involved in the robbery.
He stated that it caused the widespread distribution of images of individuals whom the police wished to talk to regarding this event.
“In January 2022, photographs of Jo Jobson were released in major news sources, both in print and online, identifying him as a suspect in the alleged crime and someone that police were seeking to interview.”
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The media’s attention was heightened and reinvigorated following a trial involving other defendants.
On June 5, 2023, the accused surrendered himself at Chelmsford Police Station and was subsequently arrested.
According to Mr Renvoize, the attack was a carefully planned and executed invasion of the home of prominent individuals, with the specific goal of obtaining valuable timepieces.
One of the intruders took Peta Cavendish’s cell phone, according to him. The phone was later discovered outside their property, which he considered to be a “major mistake in an otherwise well-planned operation”.
According to him, the DNA found on the phone belonged to Ali Sesay and the police were able to track a phone linked to Mr. Sesay.
Police used the data from Mr Sesay’s telephone to identify several other telephone numbers that may have been involved in the crime.
The individual stated that a particular phone number was linked to Jobson, and the defendant will argue that they were not in possession of the phone and that it belonged to and was used by another person named Stephen Smith.
The prosecutor recited a statement given by Peta Cavendish where she recounted an intruder threatening to harm her husband in front of their child if he did not reveal the location of their safe.
He additionally shared a statement from Mark Cavendish, who recounted the intruders shouting “where are the watches” and demanding to know the location of the safe and money.
The proceedings, expected to span approximately one week, are ongoing.
Source: independent.co.uk
