A robber was sentenced to ten years in prison for threatening a woman in her 50s with an axe while stealing her £25,000 watch in a terrifying street attack before fleeing to Spain.
Following the raid in Chelsea in November 2019, Mark Toth became one of the Met’s top ten most wanted men.
Two men on a moped threatened the victim on Ashburnham Road, holding the weapon against her neck, putting her in a headlock, and forcing her to the ground.
Toth then attempted to strangle the woman on the sidewalk before removing her £25,000 Rolex Daytona watch as bystanders looked on in horror.
Fortunately, the victim did not sustain any significant injuries. The watch that was taken has yet to be found.
‘This man has now been jailed for this horrible heist,’ Detective Constable Peta Lundgren, who led the investigation, said after Toth was sentenced yesterday.
‘The three suspects were recognized swiftly, and two of them were apprehended shortly after the attack. Despite being identified, Toth managed to elude police by departing the country after learning of their arrests.
‘This sentence should serve as a message to everyone involved in severe criminal activity: we will investigate and use every instrument at our disposal to locate and prosecute you.’
‘We’d want to express our gratitude to the victim for her cooperation during the inquiry, as well as our admiration for her fortitude and bravery.’