Michael Winner’s widow, 81, ‘finds comfort’ in getting back some of the jewellery stolen by his ex-lover, 48, who hit her on the head with a kettle, tied and robbed her in violent three-hour raid at £4m penthouse
- Geraldine Winner, 81, was beaten and robbed by her husband’s former flame
- The attacker took possessions worth £300,000 from her Knightsbridge home
- Gurgana Gueorguieva was sentenced to nine-and-half years in prison last month
Michael Winner’s widow has been reunited with prized jewellery stolen by his ‘crazy’ ex-girlfriend.
Earlier this month Geraldine Winner, 81, told how she was beaten, tied and robbed by the film director’s former flame Gurgana Gueorguieva.
She was ambushed by the thief at her £4million Knightsbridge penthouse four years ago and had jewellery, art and money worth up to £300,000 stolen.
Reunited: Michael Winner’s widow Geraldine, 81, has been reunited with possessions that were stolen by her late husband’s former partner Gurgana Gueorguieva
Michael Winner’s widow Geraldine (pictured together) has been reunited with prized jewellery stolen by his ‘crazy’ ex-girlfriend
Gueorguieva hit Mrs Winner over the head with a kettle and restrained her with plastic cable ties during the three-hour ordeal.
The attack was a twisted means of acquiring ‘compensation’ for a £100,000 inheritance that had not materialised and she was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison last month.
Mrs Winner said: ‘He didn’t leave her anything in the will and maybe that is why she went berserk. She is dangerous, she has to be put away for a long time.’
She said she is still haunted by the attack, but may now find comfort after getting some items of jewellery back.
Gurgana Gueorguieva ambushed Geraldine (pictured after the attack) at her £4million Knightsbridge penthouse four years ago. She was hit over the head with a kettle and restrained her with plastic cable ties during the three-hour ordeal
These included the Victorian diamond engagement ring given to Mrs Winner by her film-maker husband, who died in 2013.
She told Hello! magazine: ‘It was the loss of items of sentimental value which hurt the most.
‘How on earth she thought she would get away with what she did, I’ll never know. I was terrified someone would come into my apartment and attack me.
Gueorguieva (pictured) was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison last month
‘I was too scared to be alone at night so a friend stayed in my spare room.’
It took Mrs Winner nine months of therapy to recover from the assault, which she described as ‘traumatic’ and ‘terrible’.
But she added: ‘I’ve got that original British backbone. I won’t be beaten.’
During her sentencing, Judge Testar suggested Gueorguiva – a personal trainer – had motives that were not purely financial.
In the run-up to the robbery she carefully researched her rival and sought to ’cause her pain through the loss of objects which were precious to her’ through her association with Winner.
He said: ‘Plainly the defendant blamed Mrs Winner for not receiving the inheritance she expected and she decided she would teach her a lesson.’
Bulgarian-born Gueorguiva dated Winner between 1999 and 2002, and he helped her obtain British citizenship.
Mrs Winner dated the film director, who died in January 2013, in 1957 but didn’t marry him until 2011.
The full interview is available in Hello magazine, out now.
Magazine: The full interview is available in Hello magazine, out now