Man, 30, in court charged with robbing £700k worth of watches from Mark Cavendish and his wife in terrifying raid
A MAN has appeared in court today charged with robbing two watches worth £700,000 from Mark Cavendish and his wife in a terrifying raid last month.
The Olympic cyclist, 36, and wife Peta Todd, 35, were attacked by a masked gang as their horrified children looked on as their dad was threatened with a knife and forced to open his safe, a court heard.
Four intruders broke into the house on November 27 shortly after 2.30am, where Mark, Peta and their three children were inside at the time.
Romario Henry, 30, is said to be one of the gang of armed raiders who carried out the shocking attack at the Cavendish home in Ongar, Essex.
Henry, from Lewisham, was arrested on Saturday and charged with two counts of robbery, Essex Police said.
He appeared before Colchester Magistrates’ Court today via a video link from Harlow police station.
Henry spoke only to confirm his name and address, and he did not enter any pleas to the two charges during the short hearing.
He is accused of stealing a watch worth £400,000 from Mark and taking a watch worth £300,000 from former page three girl Peta.
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The court heard that Mark was subjected to demands that he “open his safe”.
An iPhone was also taken during the raid, although it was recovered later by police.
An application for bail was made but it was rejected and Henry was remanded in custody ahead of a plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court in January.
Police said two 27-year-old men – one from Gillingham and one from Camberwell – were also arrested in connection to the raid last week.
They have been released on bail until January.
The intruders broke in while Tour de France hero Mark was recovering from significant injuries from a crash at a track event in Belgium.
Police said Mark was assaulted during the break-in.
Thankfully no one was seriously injured but police said the family have been left “shaken” by the raid.
Speaking about the shocking ordeal today, Mark said his young family had been left traumatised by the ordeal at their property.
The dad-of-three said: “While recovering at our Essex family home shortly after leaving intensive care, four masked and armed men forced their way into our house as we slept, threatened my wife and children and violently attacked me.
“At knifepoint they proceeded to ransack our belongings. Amongst what was taken were two watches of great sentiment and value.
Far, far worse to be taken was the sense of security, privacy and dignity that my young family and everybody else is entitled to in their own home.
Mark Cavendish
“But far, far worse to be taken was the sense of security, privacy and dignity that my young family and everybody else is entitled to in their own home.”
At the time, Peta said: “The effect that this nightmare has had on our family is already heartbreakingly evident.”
In a previous statement, Mark thanked Essex Police for “a really quick response and the professionalism and the focus they are clearly putting into the investigation”.
Mark crashed with Lasse Norman Hansen in a nasty incident in the final event of the Ghent Six Day, just days before the raid, and suffered from two broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses who saw anybody acting suspiciously in the Ongar area between 2am and 2.40am on the night of the robbery.
Detective Inspector Tony Atkin said the family had been targeted.
He said: “This was undoubtedly a targeted incident at the home of a celebrated British Olympian, who at the time was recovering from significant injuries resulting from a crash whilst competing, which was well publicised.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Loughton CID quoting reference 42/275184/21.