A man who stole a £145,000 watch in a "brutal robbery" that left the victim unconscious has been jailed.

Lindell Angell, 32, of Amhurst Road, Hackney, had planned to steal a victim's Patek Phillipe watch, valued at approximately £145,000 on Friday, January 21, 2022.

Angell befriended the 51-year-old victim on the Strand in central London, convincing him to go to a nearby bar, according to police.

The pair had drinks for two hours and swapped phone numbers before leaving to head home.

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Angell convinced his victim to head down a dark side street towards Embankment Tube station, where he launched an unprovoked and violent attack.

Angell placed him in a chokehold, repeatedly punching him until he fell unconscious, before removing the watch from his wrist and running off.

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The victim was unconscious for several minutes and suffered facial fractures.

A member of the public him and called the London Ambulance Service.

Angell convinced his victim to walk down a side street before attacking and robbing him. CREDIT: Metropolitan Police

Angell tried to evade police but was tracked down and arrested in a hotel room in Euston Road on Monday, February 6, 2022.

He was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison for robbery and possessing criminal property at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, January 20.

Police also found a secure lock-up that had been hired six days after the offence, with a large amount of cash in it which they seized.

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Detective Constable Gemma Oganian said: "This was a brutal robbery which not only resulted in serious physical harm, but many months after the offence, the victim continues to recover from the psychological trauma.

"People should be able to walk the streets of London and not fear this type of crime.

"We will proactively investigate and seek tough sentences for offenders like Angell."