‘Burglar of Philip Green’s stepson’ refuses to testify

A burglar who menaced the half-naked wife of Sir Philip Green’s billionaire stepson as he grabbed jewellery worth £2million from their mansion in north London refused to give evidence in court today.  

Robert Lewis, 41, allegedly broke into the £18million St John’s Wood mansion and threatened Magda Palos, 37, as she was getting out of the shower.

Mrs Palos – wife of Sir Philip’s stepson, Brett Palos – was subjected to a terrifying ordeal as her six-year-old daughter looked on, Harrow Crown Court heard.

Lewis brandished a pair of 12-inch wire cutters and forced Mrs Palos into handing over the watches and jewellery, it is said.

Among the haul was an 11 carat diamond ring, a Chanel Camelia ring, a heart-shaped diamond ring, a Daytona Rolex, a day-date Rolex, an Explorer Rolex, a diamond Rolex and three gold Cartier bracelets.

At the time of the crime Lewis was under surveillance by police and was required to sign on at Charing Cross police station.  

Jurors were told Lewis has 14 convictions for burglary or attempted burglary dating back to 1999.

Lewis simply denies he is the intruder and Elroy Claxton, defending, said he will not be giving evidence during his trial.

Mr Claxton told the court in his closing speech: ‘I am not going to be rude but some people who live in very large houses have never seen their wire cutters.

Brett Palos was born in 1974 to Robert Palos and Tina Green (pictured left) who is now married to retail billionaire tycoon Sir Philip Green (pictured right) 

‘If it was him they may not have been brought to the house by Mr Lewis – but Mr Lewis’ account remains that it was not him that was the intruder.

‘Mr Lewis, as you know, has got other convictions and they are what’s called bad character and what it means is that previously he has committed offences and been convicted or pleaded guilty.

‘Mr Lewis is not at all suggesting that he hasn’t committed burglary in the past. What he is asking you to do is to consider the prosecution case and not give a dog a bad name.

‘What the defendant says, effectively, is on 28 November I am doing what I am supposed to do weekly, which is to sign on at Charing Cross police station.

‘He must know he’s under surveillance.

Lewis simply denies he is the intruder and Elroy Claxton, defending, said he will not be giving evidence during his trial at Harrow Crown Court (pictured)

‘But in short the place where he lived is not that far away from where the burglary was and so what Mr Lewis is saying to examine the argument.

‘On Christmas Eve when this statement [Mrs Palos’ statement] is being taken, this is being done when the witness is outside the UK.

‘The police had a detailed account of what he looks like when the statement was being taken.

‘Did he have a big head? Did he have a big nose?

‘Look at the identification procedure carefully as well because the person who was carrying out the identification procedure would have wished the witness to look at the film a number of times. 

Lewis, of no fixed address, denies aggravated burglary and robbery, claiming mistaken identity. The trial continue.