Pub thief jailed over £2.2m Fabergé theft

Pub Thief Sentenced for £2.2m Fabergé Theft

A man identified as “opportunistic” has received a two-year-and-three-month prison sentence for stealing a handbag containing a Fabergé egg and a watch set worth up to £2.2 million from a central London pub. The theft occurred on 7 November 2024 when Enzo Conticello, 29, took Rosie Dawson’s handbag while she stood outside the Dog and Duck pub in Soho. The items were in the bag after Dawson had brought them out for a work event earlier that evening, and they remain unlocated.

Details of the Crime

Conticello, also known as Hakin Boudjenoune, was linked to the theft after using Dawson’s bank cards in a nearby shop shortly after the incident. During the trial, it was revealed that he had handed over the bag, which included a laptop and credit cards, to purchase drugs. The stolen items were not recovered, though insurers covered a £106,700 payout to Dawson’s employers at the Craft Irish Whiskey Company.

Legal Proceedings and Defense Arguments

Conticello pleaded guilty to three fraud charges and one theft count before the court. His defense attorney, Katie Porter-Windley, stated that he had previously worked as a chef but lost his job during the pandemic and fell into cocaine addiction. She described the theft as a “moment of opportunity” and noted that Conticello is genuinely remorseful for his actions.

“On the night in question, it was a moment of opportunity which he took, and he is genuinely remorseful for his behaviour,” said Porter-Windley.

Porter-Windley further argued that Conticello was unaware of the items’ value, emphasizing that the Fabergé egg’s “extraordinary” appearance might have led him to underestimate its worth. When Recorder Kate Livesey remarked on the egg’s striking design, the barrister replied that its “extraordinary” nature could have made it difficult for Conticello to recognize its high value at first glance.

Impact of the Theft

Livesey highlighted that the “opportunistic” theft caused “inconvenience and stress” for Dawson and her company. She cited Dawson’s account of the “shock and panic” experienced upon realizing the bag had been stolen, noting the “incredible stress” it brought to the company.

Current Investigation

Authorities continue their search for the Fabergé egg and watch. Det Const Arben Morina, leading the investigation, stated: “Conticello thought nothing of helping himself to someone else’s possessions, and he now faces a prison sentence as a result of his greed.”