Harrods wine thief with 'strong French accent' tries to take bottle worth £20,000
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Version 0 of 1. A man faces prison after walking out of Harrods with a rare bottle of wine worth just under £20,000. 34-year-old Boris Chaudemanche took the £19,995 Cru from Harrods’ Knightsbridge store on 6 December but was stopped as he tried to leave the shop. Described as "more of a connoisseur than a criminal mastermind", Chaudemanche insisted he had no idea how much the bottle of Romanée-Conti was worth. He was released on bail ahead of sentence on 26 January after pleading guilty to the theft at an earlier hearing. The Evening Standard reported that prosecutor Stuart Stevens said Chaudemanche went into Harrods carrying a large roll of tin-foil, apparently with the intention of tucking stolen items inside. Mr Stevens told Hammersmith Magistrates Court: "It appears that he is more of a connoisseur than a criminal mastermind. "He could not believe it [the bottle] was worth that much. He thought it was [worth] about £45 to £70." Speaking in a strong French accent, Chaudemanche confessed that he had been drinking a bottle of whisky every two days. District Judge Tan Ikram asked: "You were going to drink it?" Chaudemanche confirmed that this was his intention. Sentence was adjourned for an alcohol assessment requirement but the judge told Chaudemanche: "I make it very clear that if I deal with you next time, you will be going to prison." |