Hampshire Constabulary

You are here: Home → News & Campaigns → Press Releases → Compensation orders made for Benzie jewellers robbers

Compensation orders made for Benzie jewellers robbers

Press Releases

Published: 16/10/2010


Two men convicted of carrying out an armed robbery on the Isle of Wight have been made the subject of compensation orders totalling almost £4000.

Gary Ridgewell-Smith and Oliver Mazirel were sentenced to nine years earlier this year after a cross border police investigation led to their identification and arrest for armed robbery.

On July 3, 2009, the shop assistant at Benzie jewellers in Cowes on the Isle of Wight heard a loud bang outside and went to investigate, finding that two masked men had smashed the front window of the shop and were taking 15 watches, totalling £200,000 in value.

At a hearing held in Portsmouth Crown Court on October Thursday, October 14, a judge ordered compensation payments from both men involved in the robbery.

Financial investigators have been working on the case and provided evidence to show that Oliver Mazirel had financially benefitted from his actions, to the total of £221,118.50, and had £1940.60 available. He was given compensation orders of £100 to pay to Ryde Library and £1840.60 to Lloyds of London.

Gary Ridgewell-Smith was shown to have benefitted from his criminal actions to the total of £212,955.00, with an available amount of £2000. A compensation order of £2000 was made to Lloyds of London.

Detective Inspector Dave Brown, who leads the force’s Economic Crime Investigation Unit, said, “These orders have been secured using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act. In the past the money criminals had gained from their actions was difficult to trace and prove, but now we can ensure that, like in the case of Mazirel and Ridgewell-Smith, they are sentenced for their crimes and also have to literally pay for their actions. We are making every effort to take the benefit out of crime.”

 


Copyright © Hampshire Constabulary 2012.

News | Freedom of Information | Complaints | Reporting Crime | Disclaimer