London's West End is losing £1million of watches to knife-point muggings EVERY MONTH, court hears

Violent gangs are stealing luxury watches from the wrists of tourists and Londoners at a rate of £1 million a month in the West End, Scotland Yard told Southwark Crown Court. Knives were seen or implied in one in five of the robberies recorded over the past six months, with many victims punched and kicked. Judge Dafna Spiro condemned the epidemic as 'a shame and a blight on our city' as she jailed three men for stealing a £137,000 Richard Mille from fashion entrepreneur Catalin Botezatu outside Mayfair's Amazonico restaurant.

Botezatu, who had undergone major heart cancer surgery, said in court that he thought his life was in danger when the trio cut the diamond-encrusted watch from his wrist.

Younes Djoudi, 34, received five years and nine months; Abdel El Habchi, 30, five years and six months; Ali Eldahouzze, 22, three years and six months.

Judge Spiro said Botezatu has been deterred from returning to London — a city she said is 'privileged' to attract such visitors.