Moroccan influencer who robbed diamond-encrusted £170,000 Richard Mille watch from fashion designer as he smoked cigar outside Mayfair restaurant faces jail

A Moroccan influencer who robbed an A-list fashion designer of his £170,000 Richard Mille watch as he smoked a cigar outside a Mayfair restaurant is facing jail.Catalin Botezatu fought back as he was attacked by influencer Abdel El Habchi, 30, and Ali Eldahouzze, 22, before Younes Djoudi, 34, cut the diamond and crystal timepiece from his wrist.Mr Botezatu, who has worked for Versace, said he feared for his life as the thieves struck as he smoked with his friend outside the Latin American restaurant Amazonico in Berkeley Square on January 28.He told the court how he was approached by the trio shortly before midnight and was restrained by Eldahouzze and El Habchi while Djoudi took the watch. He was left with cuts to his wrists after one of the men slashed through his rubber strap.Eldahouzze and El Habchi, both aided by Arabic interpreters, denied but were convicted by a Southwark Crown Court jury of robbery. Djoudi earlier admitted the charge.El Habchi, a Moroccan social media influencer who is also a security guard, claimed he had absolutely no idea that a robbery was to take place.Videos on his social media accounts show him in uniform and suggest he has previously worked as a guard at supermarket Sainsbury's.He told jurors he was born near Casablanca in Morocco and entered the UK by spouse visa in March 2019 after marrying a woman called Amy, with whom he shares two children. Catalin Botezatu (pictured) was robbed of his £170,000 Richard Mille watch as he smoked a cigar outside a Mayfair restaurant Mr Botezatu received the limited-edition diamond-encrusted watch for up to €200,000 (£170,000) around 13 years ago and the timepiece would now be worth considerably more El Habchi, a Moroccan social media influencer who is also a security guard, claimed he had absolutely no idea that a robbery was to take placeEldahouzze claimed Djoudi had threatened to 'set me on fire' if he did not snatch the watch, but he still said he refused.He told jurors he has two million followers on Facebook, 350,000 on Instagram, and 95,000 on TikTok, where he livestreams himself going around London.Police later found incriminating messages on Eldahouzze's phone, including a picture of the stolen watch. Judge Dafna Spiro told El Habchi and Eldahouzze: 'You have been convicted unanimously by the jury of this offence, of which you are both clearly guilty, and having been found guilty I now need to sentence you which I will most likely do on the 16 October.'In the meantime, you will be remanded in custody.'Mr Botezatu received the limited-edition diamond-encrusted watch for up to €200,000 (£170,000) around 13 years ago and the timepiece would now be worth considerably more.He said the watch had a high sentimental value as he was given it by a friend who has since died.Prosecutor Arizuna Asante said the three thieves were part of a joint enterprise to rob the designer after they scoped out their target outside the eatery that night. Videos on El Habchi's social media accounts show him in uniform and suggest he has previously worked as a guard at supermarket Sainsbury's The gang of robbers walk Amazonico in central London, where Mr Botezatu was smoking outside Djoudi (left) and El Habchi (right) as seen in CCTV footage shown in court Hollywood fashion designer Catalin Botezatu, pictured at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival Mr Botezatu was leaving Amazonico in Mayfair, London, when he was ambushedAssisted by a Romanian interpreter, Mr Botezatu gave evidence from behind a screen as he went through photographs of his injuries.He said: 'That's the first scratch, there was another scratch on the other side of my wrist but unfortunately it's not here [in the photo].'Mr Botezatu said bruises on his back occurred when he was 'pushed into the metal railings where I was attacked'.He said: 'I used my arm to protect my operation and they pushed me into the railings.'Under cross examination Mr Botezatu raised his voice as he said: 'I could become emotional but I don't want to do this. My life was in danger.'He went on: 'I couldn't believe that something like this could happen in London, in front of a luxury restaurant where I was a client.'I feared for my life because of my cancer operation and because I have five stents and because the slightest blow or cut, God forbid, where I was operated, could have been fatal.'He demonstrated what happened to jurors and said: 'I tried to defend myself like this, they cut the strap with a sharp object.'Mr Botezatu said his assistant chased them for about 500m before the trio split up.Asked if he saw the muggers' faces, he said: 'It was not the desert, it was in the middle of London in Mayfair and even if I didn't see the faces of these criminals I do remember because hey ho, I am a fashion designer, I remember how they were dressed.'Mr Botezatu studied under Gianni Versace before launching his own fashion label Delphi back in Bucharest, and has featured at Paris, New York and Milan fashion week.He also hosted the Romanian version of Next Top Model from 2011 to 2012.All three men were remanded in custody until sentencing on October 16.