Richmond watch dealer’s family pay tribute to ‘beautiful boy’

A watch dealer found dead a day after being assaulted during a robbery at a London jewellers was a “beautiful, funny, loyal boy”, his family said.

Oliver White, 27, was put in a chokehold as two men snatched a number of high value watches from the shop in Richmond on Saturday.

Mr White’s parents said the attack had been “terrifying” and that he was suffering “anguish and distress” after CCTV footage was shared on social media.

Surrey Police said Mr White’s death was “not thought to be suspicious”.

Mr White, from Shepperton, Surrey, had returned home from his place of work on Saturday “traumatised and unable to speak,” his family said in a statement.

“He had been the victim of a terrifying attack and high value robbery at his place of work, which was later shared widely on social media.”

Mr White’s family said he “lit up every room he walked into”.

“We are desperately trying to make sense and come to terms with this tragic incident and plead that we are given the privacy to grieve without additional stress and intrusion into our lives,” they added.

CCTV footage taken inside the store, which was posted online, shows the watch dealer demonstrating an item to two men at a table when one suddenly jumps on him and grabs him round the neck.

The other then takes numerous high value watches from a display, which get placed in a rucksack as the shop worker continues to be held down on a chair.

Images of two suspects were released on Saturday night by the Met Police as part of an appeal to find them.

At the time, the force said the two robbers were not armed and the member of staff had not been seriously injured.

The shop worker was then found dead after police were called to a location in Shepperton shortly after 20:15 on Sunday.

In a statement, Surrey Police said: “A man in his 20s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin are aware and are being supported.”

The force added that “inquiries are still ongoing, but his death is not thought to be suspicious”.

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