These are the terrifying scenes when a TV antiques skilled was hit over the top with a hammer after bravely confronting two robbers who stole greater than £100,000 value of jewelry from his retailer.
The assault on Ian Towning, one in every of London’s best-known sellers, was captured on CCTV through the minute-long raid final Tuesday lunchtime.
He advised The Mail on Sunday that he believes his appearances as a visitor skilled on Dickinson’s Actual Deal on ITV and Channel 4’s Posh Pawn made him a goal.
‘The docs advised me that I’m fortunate to be alive,’ he mentioned. The ordeal started when his safety guard Mark Simmons, 58, noticed two balaclava-clad males exterior the Chelsea retailer on a monitor.
Mr Simmons challenges them however is struck on the top and knocked unconscious. Footage then reveals the robbers unsuccessfully making an attempt to smash the primary show cupboard’s strengthened glass with a sledgehammer.
Two balaclava-clad males have been noticed approaching the Chelsea retailer on a CCTV monitor
The ordeal started when his safety guard Mark Simmons, 58, noticed two balaclava-clad males. He’s seen right here difficult them
The boys acquired previous Mr Simmons and made their means into the shop, unsuccessfully making an attempt to smash the primary show cupboard’s strengthened glass with a sledgehammer
Les Barrett seems to be on in horror because the thugs burst contained in the boutique and get to work
Mr Towning places his arms out as one of many thugs mercilessly batters him with a claw hammer
Mr Towning mentioned his associate Les ‘was making an attempt to pin me to the ground to cease me getting harm once more’ through the altercation
‘I used to be fortunate, my accidents may have been a lot worse, although I’m nonetheless in a number of ache,’ Mr Towning mentioned
Photos present the harm completed to show cupboards within the aftermath of the hammer assault
A detailed-up image of the alleged thief’s face
On the time Mr Towning, 76, was on the opposite facet, and he reaches for a button to convey down metal shutters on the store door, however is just too late.
Seconds later the robbers burst inside and push previous Mr Towning’s terrified associate, 77-year-old Les Barrett, whereas shouting ‘get on the f****** ground’.
Mr Towning refuses and tries to dam the pair from reaching a show full of £1 million value of vintage jewelry.
It’s then that he’s bludgeoned with the claw hammer, leaving him with a gashed brow and bruising.
Nonetheless he refuses to go down and tries to confront his attacker once more, solely this time he’s punched within the face.
One of many robbers is then seen reaching contained in the show window and shovelling gems, together with a sapphire and diamond necklace, right into a small rucksack.
‘I wasn’t going to let anybody steal my jewels and not using a struggle, that is simply the way in which I’m,’ Mr Towning mentioned in an interview at his Surrey house after being launched from hospital.
Safety guard Mr Simmons was coated in blood after the violent ordeal on Tuesday
Blood is seen streaming down Mr Towning’s face within the aftermath of the violent assault
Among the horrific accidents sustained by Mr Towning through the brutal assault on Tuesday
Stitches on the top damage sustained by safety guard Mr Simmons through the hammer raid
‘I used to be fortunate, my accidents may have been a lot worse, although I’m nonetheless in a number of ache.
‘Les was making an attempt to pin me to the ground to cease me getting harm once more. However I felt this nice anger.
‘It in all probability wasn’t till later I realised simply how severe it was – the docs mentioned the hammer blows may have killed me.’
However he added defiantly: ‘For the reason that theft, folks maintain telling us that now’s certainly the time to surrender, however we’re not going to allow them to beat us.’
The raid on Mr Towning’s retailer, Bourbon Hanby Arcade, typifies a disturbing crime development that has beset London.
Mr Downing mentioned he believes his appearances as a visitor skilled on Dickinson’s Actual Deal on ITV and Channel 4 ‘s Posh Pawn made him a goal
The raid on Mr Towning’s retailer, Bourbon Hanby Arcade, typifies a disturbing crime development that has beset London
Vintage jewelry skilled Ian Towning, with associate Les Barrett homeowners of Bourbon Hanby Arcade
Antiques sellers throughout the capital have advised of how robberies have soared and blame extremely skilled gangs who use monitoring gadgets when scoping potential victims.
‘Robbers cannot rob banks any longer as a result of they’re too safe, so we are actually those on the frontline,’ mentioned Mr Towning, who believes he and Mr Barrett could have been adopted by the robbers a number of weeks in the past.
Detective Sergeant Richard Corridor, main the investigation, mentioned: ‘If you already know something, or have witnessed something suspicious within the Sydney Avenue space on the time, then please come ahead to police by calling 101 stating CAD 2933/26Mar.’