A migrant who flew to Britain as a holiday maker before trying to claim asylum here then joined a gang which held up a Knightsbridge department store at knifepoint to steal dozens of designer handbags.
Balaclava-clad migrant Akeem Lutchman-Singh, 22, brandished a terrifying Rambo knife at staff in the £70,000 raid at the Design Exchange in Knightsbridge on 20 October 2024.
The thief from Trinidad was part of a gang that included at least one other asylum seeker who stole luxury goods including Hermes handbags from the store on London’s famous Brompton Road.
Lutchman-Singh and his gang mates posed as a fruit delivery team before donning balaclava, arming themselves with weapons and steaming into the Design Exchange store.
Together with fellow asylum seeker Tyrease James, 20, Romeo Grannam, 37, and Acton Francis, 40, he later admitted a burglary charge.
Lutchman-Singh, who is thought to have entered Britain as a tourist before claiming asylum on the basis that it was too dangerous for him to return to the Caribbean, was this week jailed for two years and eight months at Isleworth Crown Court.
He later claimed to have taken part in the raid while acting under duress, saying he’d been threatened by gangsters.
Just months after the robbery the UK government imposed new visa requirements on visitors from Trinidad.
Balaclava-clad migrant Akeem Lutchman-Singh, 22, brandished a terrifying Rambo knife at staff in the £70,000 raid at the Design Exchange in Knightsbridge on 20 October 2024
The thief from Trinidad was part of a gang that included at least one other asylum seeker who stole luxury goods including Hermes handbags from the store (pictured) on London’s famous Brompton Road
This followed a 10-fold increase in asylum claims by citizens of Trinidad – rising to 439 annually.
Despite twice claiming to be in danger – if he were deported or if he didn’t take part in the raid – Lutchman-Singh is likely to face deportation once he has completed his jail term.
At an earlier hearing the court was told that the gang had been driven to Knightsbridge by getaway driver Kenneth Duncan, 57, using the cover of his business that delivers fruit to offices.
Martin Hooper, prosecuting, had said the group demonstrated ‘some degree of planning’.
‘Balaclava packs were bought and put on,’ he said.
The prosecutor said there had been ‘economic and commercial loss of a moderate degree to the victims’ but added that seven of the nine bags stolen were recovered.
He described Design Exchange shop workers as ‘effectively fleeing with [the] exception of one security guard.
‘They spoke of their concern for their safety and were seen leaving the immediate area.’
The robbers were armed with knives and stole Hermes handbags worth more than £70,000 from the upmarket boutique
He said the offence was aggravated because ‘the offence was committed as part of a group.’
In a prepared statement after his arrest Lutchman-Singh said he was ‘forced by two males to burgle the Design Exchange on 20 October 2024.
‘I’m an asylum seeker from Trinidad. I had to leave Trinidad because of serious concerns about my safety.
‘I had fears for my life which is why I burgled the Design Exchange.’
James also said in his prepared statement he claimed he was forced into taking part by two ‘extremely dangerous Caribbean males’.
‘I am an asylum seeker because of grave concerns about my safety in Trinidad – the people who forced me are linked to my issues in Trinidad.
‘There were genuine fears I may be subject to serious harm unless I burgled the Design Exchange.’
Ignoring this, the judge, Mr Recorder Peter Krepski, jailed Lutchman-Singh for two years and eight months and told him: ‘The thought of people being armed with knives on our street, let alone being armed to commit burglary is terrifying to the public.’
The judge had described the raid as ‘extremely unpleasant’ when he earlier jailed Francis, Duncan and Grannam for 31 months each. James was locked up for 19 months.
Duncan, of South Norwood, Francis, who gave his address as the Best Western Queens Hotel in Crystal Palace, James, of no fixed address, and Grannam, also of no fixed address, denied aggravated burglary with intent but admitted simple burglary – and the prosecution accepted their pleas.
Lutchman-Singh, of no fixed address, also admitted burglary.
