SIX CONVICTED IN CENTRAL LONDON CASINO ROBBERY SPREE

A jury has returned unanimous guilty verdicts against three defendants standing trial over a series of violent robberies targeting casino winners in central London, marking the conclusion of a four-week trial prosecuted by Julian Jones leading Charles Drinnan. A fourth defendant pleaded guilty after Mr. Jones’ opening and two others pleaded earlier in the proceedings.

The defendants ran a sophisticated and predatory operation, targeting high-value gamblers leaving the Hippodrome and Empire casinos in London's West End. Using coordinated spotting and surveillance techniques, including multiple-party live phone links, the group would identify victims who had enjoyed significant winnings before covertly stalking them from the casinos to quieter parts of the capital, where they would subject them to violence and steal their winnings. So calculated was their method that victims were left entirely unaware they were being followed until it was too late.

The trial heard voluminous evidence assembled by the Metropolitan Police, including extensive CCTV footage, cell site analysis tracking the movements of the defendants, and material recovered from telephone downloads. The Crown successfully argued that ten strands of circumstantial evidence, taken together, painted an overwhelming picture of a highly organised criminal enterprise.

The unanimous guilty verdicts against the defendants on all counts were a testament to the painstaking work of investigators and the strength of the case built by the Crown Prosecution Service.

All six defendants are due to be sentenced on 20th July 2026, following reports for dangerousness.

Julian and Charles were instructed by Catherine Carrie of the Crown Prosecution Service.