A father-of-two in Wigan has been murdered by a mob who stole his Rolex watch before leaving him for dead, a court in Manchester has been told.
Rolex and other luxury watches have become troublingly tradeable assets for casual criminals and organised gangs, and police are stressing that dealers should be extremely careful to check any watches offered to them against registers of stolen goods.
The fatal attack took place on August 6 last year in the grounds of Wigan Parish Church, with five alleged assailants attacking Steven McMyler (pictured top) after he refused to hand over his £11,000 Rolex Submariner watch.
Mr McMyler had been drinking earlier with one of the five, Lewis Peake, at a nearby pub.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Mr Peake and two other men, Michael Wilson and Jordan Short, were joined by two unnamed teenage boys in the assault
Prosecutor Mark Ford QC said Mr McMyler was confronted by the defendants who had “engaged in a joint enterprise to rob him”.
Mr McMyler was “kicked forcefully to the head” by Mr Short and never regained consciousness, the court heard.
Mr Peake claimed he was a victim and said the other defendants took £200 from him.
The trial continues.
