Canterbury Crown Court

by Paul Hooper

Three men burst into a Deal jewellers armed with what staff believed was a double-barrelled shotgun – and snatched watches and earrings.

Last October’s raid at A Simmonds Jewellers in High Street was caught on CCTV which was shown to a jury.

The men, all hooded and wearing balaclavas or scarves, walked into the shop and began smashing display cabinets – after ordering the female staff members to lie down.

Michael Delsignore, 28, of Mill Road, Deal has denied charges of robbery and possessing an imitation firearm at a time of committing an offence.

Oguzhan Kaya, 18, of Hinchcliffe Way, Margate has pleaded not guilty to the same charges – but is expected to admit taking part in the raid but claiming he did after receiving threats.

Prosecutor Peter Forbes alleged at Canterbury Crown Court that the two were part of the gang which carried out the armed attack.

He told how robbers arrived in High Street, Deal in a Peugeot estate at 4.30pm on October 31 and, while the getaway driver stayed in the vehicle, three men went inside the shop.

“The Crown alleges that these two were involved in the robbery when they went into the shop and threatened staff with what appeared to be a shotgun.

"The weapon was never recovered so the Crown cannot say for certain that it was a real weapon.

“Display cabinets were smashed and jewellery was taken before they all made their escape, but not before one member of staff was able to activate the panic alarm and notified the police.

“The men then realised the police had been called and fled. Fortunately no-one was hurt, “ he added.

Mr Forbes claimed that shoppers in the High Street saw the raid and heard “sounds of screaming and smashing glass” and took the number of the getaway vehicle.

He said that 90 minutes after the raid the car was found burned out “in an isolated spot” near Sandwich.

“Inevitably another vehicle had been involved to transfer the proceeds of the robbery and those involved.

"The Peugeot’s registration number had been clocked by the police’s automatic numberplate recognition cameras (ANPR) in that area before the robbery.

“Officers were then able to look at CCTV in Deal and see that the Peugeot had been circling the area prior to the robbery before heading along a coastal road after the raid known as the Ancient Highway between Deal and Sandwich via a private estate link to the Royal St Georges Golf Club, “ he claimed.

He told the jury that the Peugeot was spotted by a householder being driven in convoy with a white van who then later saw smoke coming from the area.

The prosecutor claimed that the white van was hired by Delsignore on the day of the robbery –and when it was later searched officers found price tags from the stolen jewellery, along with glass that was forensically linked to the shop.

A week later detectives then went to the Margate home of Kaya’s girlfriend where items of stolen jewellery were found, it was alleged.

“From his home address, officers took away a jacket and trainers which were later analysed and fragments of glass were forensically linked to the raid, “ he claimed.

Mr Forbes said that Delsignore would admit hiring the van to help move some household items for his mother.

“But he will say that a friend then asked for a lift and then another man had threatened him, telling him to pick him up from a specified location.

“He will maintain that he was not aware that the robbery was about to be committed and maintains that the Peugeot later turned up and the men jumped into the back of the transit van. The Crown rejects this.”

The prosecutor said that in a defence statement, Kaya admits participating in the robbery and being “one of those who entered the jewellers and smashed the counters”.

“However, he maintains that he was acting under duress. People had threatened him and he was forced to participate against his will.”

Mr Forbes told the jury: “You may not be surprised to hear that the Crown rejects this too.”

The case continues.