Gang of asylum seekers armed with knives stole £70,000 of Hermes purses from Knightsbridge retailer, court docket hears

A gang of asylum seekers who had been dwelling in a resort raided a high-end Knightsbridge division retailer armed with knives and stole Hermes purses value greater than £70,000, a court docket heard.

The raiders struck the Design Exchange in west London on 20 October 2024, it’s alleged.

Ken Duncan, a 57-year-old fruit supply supervisor, was once mentioned to be the getaway driving force for the heist.

Duncan allegedly drove 3 of the migrants to Brixton afterwards – however advised cops in an interview he had no concept he’d assisted a theft.

The shipping supervisor, who works handing over fruit to workplaces round London, was once discovered via police with a Rambo knife and a pack of balaclavas in his automobile.

His truck – purported to have additionally carried 3 of the raiders – was once found out with baggage of costly garments inside of, a court docket heard. 

Asylum seekers Tyrease James, 21, and Akeem Lutchman-Singh say they had been compelled into robbing the retail retailer via two older Caribbean males via the names of Romeo Grannam, 37, and Acton Francis, 40.

At Isleworth Crown Court as of late, Duncan’s post-arrest interview with detectives was once relayed to the jury.

The alleged robbers had been armed with knives and stole Hermes purses value greater than £70,000 from the upmarket boutique

The males at the moment are lately on trial at Isleworth Crown Court (pictured) in West London and faces long custodial sentences if discovered accountable

He advised officials that he idea he was once serving to his buddies drop off a couple of in their buddies to Brixton.

He described being ‘sat there for a few minutes’ on Brompton Road ahead of one of the crucial males he had pushed to the positioning and two others ‘jumped in’ his automobile.

Duncan mentioned that he knew one thing was once ‘not right’ – however he mentioned he was once ‘just probably ignorant.’

He was once requested about all of the baggage discovered via police.

But Ducan mentioned he couldn’t see all of the baggage piled up in the back of him.

Following up, the investigator mentioned: ’Obviously what was once recovered out of your car was once moderately a couple of baggage – I fight to image the way you wouldn’t have observed them…may you give an explanation for to me?’

‘Because they came from behind me – so I’m nonetheless on my telephone like this so I didn’t know the rest – all I noticed was once my doorways simply open, they get in and Natalie is using off.’

An officer requested: ‘At any point did you sort of look behind you at all?’

The retailer in Knightsbridge, one among London’s maximum unique buying groceries districts, permits consumers to shop for, promote and alternate unique preloved clothier purses and clothes via luxurious manufacturers together with Gucci, Chanel and Hermes  

An inner shot of the Design Exchange which was once allegedly centered via a gang of asylum seekers 

The alleged getaway driving force’s truck was once reportedly found out filled with baggage of costly garments and clothier purses, the court docket heard

Co-defendant Tyrease James mentioned in his ready commentary that he was once ‘forced’ into committing the theft via two ‘extremely dangerous’ Caribbean males

‘No, because I’m simply concentrating’, Duncan responded.

‘Did you see them with masks, balaclavas, anything like that?’ Balaclava packets that had been discovered, have you learnt the place they got here from?’, requested the investigator.

Duncan, who was once to begin with arrested for being in ownership of an offensive weapon, was once requested why his automobile was once discovered with a ‘Rambo knife’ inside of.

He reiterated that he did know why he was once using the lads however authorised that his thoughts did ‘start wondering’ throughout the travel to Brixton.

At the tip of his interview, Duncan advised the police: ‘I’ve by no means been desirous about the rest in my existence.

‘For all this to happen and then to be told it’s a theft with a knife – I’m in surprise.’

In a ready commentary equipped after his arrest, alleged robber Lutchman-Singh mentioned he was once ‘forced by two males to burgle the Design Exchange on 20 October 2024.

‘I’m an asylum seeker from Trinidad, I needed to go away Trinidad on account of critical issues about my protection.

The alleged getaway driving force Ken Duncan, a 57-year-old fruit supply supervisor, claimed he idea he was once serving to his buddies drop off a couple of in their buddies to Brixton

Officers additionally reportedly discovered a ‘Rambo knife’ throughout the truck of the alleged getaway driving force

All 4 males accused of sporting out the theft deny irritated housebreaking with intent and the trial continues

‘I had fears for my life which is why I burgled the Design Exchange.’

Co-defendant James mentioned in his ready commentary he was once ‘forced’ into committing the theft via two ‘extremely dangerous’ Caribbean males.

‘I am an asylum seeker because of grave concerns about my safety in Trinidad – the people who forced me are linked to my issues in Trinidad,’ he said. 

‘There were genuine fears I may be subject to serious harm unless I burgled the Design Exchange.’

Duncan, of South Norwood, Croydon, Francis, of Upper Norwood, Croydon, James, NFA, and Grannam, additionally NFA, all deny irritated housebreaking with intent.

Lutchman-Singh, of no mounted domicile, denies irritated housebreaking with intent and ownership of an offensive weapon in a public position.

The trial continues.