Sunday Mirror Investigates: SHOPPED

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Apr 21, 2002 | by GRAHAM JOHNSON Investigations Editor

When our investigator said it had taken 15 minutes to subdue a victim to steal a Rolex he laughed and said: "I'll f**king buy. I'll buy any f**king thing."

He boasted that he was friends with Britain's biggest drug dealer Curtis Warren, now serving a 12-year sentence in Holland for an pounds 80million cocaine deal.

The conversation went:

INVESTIGATOR: I'll be honest with you. They are robbed. They are mugged.

RAMSEY: Yeah. Yeah.

INVESTIGATOR: Off the smack heads and the crack heads and all that. Have to bash people.

RAMSEY: I'll give you a grand for all three.

INVESTIGATOR: Come on, it took me 15 minutes to get it off the victim.

RAMSEY: (Laughs loudly) And I'll give you a draw (cannabis) and all.

Ramsey then gave our investigator a wish list of jewellery he wanted stolen. He said: "Get big parcels of tom (jewellery) and all that.

"Gucci is a waste of time. But Cartier love bangles are good. All you do is just give me a ring. In terms of Rolex watches, when they are nicked very few people buy them. I'll f**king buy. I'll buy any f**king thing.

"But it's better to go and get diamond and good top end gear. If you start bringing down gold it is just scrap. Unless it's old. I don't f**k people over. Some people down here will murder you."

And he added: "I don't really speak over the phone. But if you tell me what time you are coming then I will put the kettle on."

While we were there several people approached the store offering to sell watches and jewellery. An assistant called Mark chatted about the celebrities who had in bought jewellery in the store. None of them were aware of the shop's illegal activities.

Pointing to a signed postcard of S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens, he said: "Her mum was here and she bought a diamond bracelet. Then Rachel came down and bought a few things."

The walls are lined with other signed pictures of music and sports stars including world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis and singer Craig David. The card from David says: 'To all at Chic II - thanks."

When our investigators turned down the offer for the four watches at Chic II a young assistant said: "Go two doors down, tell him Jason sent you and he will sort you out."

The shop turned out to be the London HQ of Danesh International Consultants.

There, a smartly dressed man called Mohammed offered pounds 800 cash for the Rolex and said he would buy other similar items.

INVESTIGATOR: There's another 12 Rolexes, ones with diamonds.

MOHAMMED: I'll maybe give you pounds 800 cash. But I want the other ones.

INVESTIGATOR: So you'll give me pounds 800 cash for this Rolex here.

MOHAMMED: Yeah.

INVESTIGATOR: They're from Scotland. They're nicked but there is nothing to worry about is there.

MOHAMMED: Yeah Yeah.

He then ushered our investigator through a side entrance into the street.

When the Sunday Mirror confronted Goulding and Bird about our investigation, John Goulding said: "I'm very pleased to hear it." He then put the phone down.

Eddie Ramsey, of Chic II, said: "You can expose whatever you like. You have made some serious allegations that are totally untrue."