Tamara Ecclestone burglary: Man denies plotting raid on heiress's London home

Tamara Ecclestone posted a holiday picture hours before a £50million jewellery raid on her home
Dave Benett/Tamara Ecclestone
Ellena Cruse28 July 2020
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A man has denied plotting to burgle Tamara Ecclestone's London home.

Emil-Bogdan Savastru, 29, appeared at Isleworth crown court accused of conspiracy to burgle following a raid in the heiress's property in Kensington, west London, last December.

He was also charged with attempting to remove criminal property on January 30 this year and having custody or control of counterfeit currency.

Savastru, of Bethnal Green, east London, pleaded not guilty to all charges via video-link from Wormwood Scrubs prison.

His mother Maria Mester has also been charged over the crime. She listened to today's proceedings from HMP Bronzefield using an Italian interpreter.

The family's gated Kensington mansion

At a previous hearing she pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and a charge of concealing criminal property.

Police were called to Ms Ecclestone’s address near Kensington Palace by security on December 13.

A £300,000 pair of diamond earrings and a Louis Vuitton bag were stolen in the raid. The haul also included currency and watches, with the stolen items estimated to be worth a total of £50 million. Most of the items have never been recovered.

The burglary happened after Ms Ecclestone, the daughter of former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, left the country for a Christmas holiday with her husband Jay Rutland and their daughter Sophia.

Judge Simon Davis told Savastru and Mester they are next due at the same court on August 6.