Aled Jones Machete Robber Given Two Year Detention Order
16-year-old had threatened to cut off his arm
Aled Jones. Picture: Classic FM
October 4, 2023
A 16-year-old boy from the Feltham area has been given a two-year detention and training order (DTO) for committing robberies including stealing Aled Jones’s Rolex watch.
The 6 foot tall youth, who cannot be named as he is a minor, approached Mr Jones who was walking through Chiswick with his 18-year-old son Lucas at around 5.30pm on 7 July this year. He waved a machete at them and demanded that the 52-year-old Songs of Praise presenter handed over the timepiece which has been valued at £17,000 while threatening to cut off his arm.
CCTV captured him leaving the scene and he was identified by members of the local neighbourhood police team.
A search of his home found the weapon and the clothes he had warn during the robbery. The watch was not found and the boy subsequently claimed he had been forced into committing robberies by adults who took what he stole from him.
In May of this year, he robbed a 78-year-old man of his gold Rolex at Paddington station.
Following his arrest, he was transferred to local authority care.
The case was heard at a youth court but the prosecution had argued that it should be transferred to a Crown Court to be heard by a judge who would have greater sentencing powers. The boy had admitted two counts of robbery and one of possession of a bladed weapon.
The sentence ultimately given was the maximum the court could hand out as DTOs are limited to two years.
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