Four Robbers Convicted Over £40m Graff Diamond Heist

Published on 04/07/10

Four robbers face jail after being convicted of taking part in the £40m Graff diamonds heist.

Soloman Beyene, 25, of Marylebone, and Clinton Mogg, 43, of Bournemouth, were convicted of conspiracy to rob at Woolwich crown court today and the jury discharged after 15 days' deliberation.

The jury, of eight women and three men, had earlier convicted Aman Kassaye, 25, of Battersea – the ringleader of the gang that carried out Britain's biggest jewellery raid – of conspiracy to rob, kidnapping and possessing a gun.

He was one of two men who pulled out handguns and forced staff to the floor of the New Bond Street shop in Mayfair, central London, before ordering a shop assistant to help empty rings, necklaces, watches and earrings from display cases on 6 August last year.

But the jury was unable to reach a verdict on Craig Calderwood, 27, of no fixed address, who admitted taking part in the raid but claimed he was forced into it by threats to kill him and his mother from two underworld figures known as "Kev" and "the big boss". He faces a possible retrial.

While those convicted executed the raid, it was believed the underworld bosses who planned it remained at large, the jury had been told.

Such an audacious robbery required meticulous planning, involving several hired vehicles strategically placed to block police following the getaway car.