Prostitutes and drug links ‘made Petra’s ex a target’
TYCOON James Stunt’s association with drugs and prostitutes made him easy prey for exploitation before £565,000 in gems and cash went missing from his safe, a court heard.
Justinas Ivaskevicius, 34, is accused of stealing a £515,000 diamond ring and £50,000 in cash from Stunt’s £10million home in Belgravia, London, in 2017.
Stunt – ex-husband of Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone – met ‘up to five women a week’ and got his security guard to pay one with a gold bar, Southwark Crown Court has heard.
In his closing speech, Michael Lavers, defending, blamed Stunt’s inner circle – including butler John Gilmore – for taking advantage.
‘There was clearly a degree of drugs and prostitution,’ he said, ‘an involvement that led to Mr Stunt having £323,000 creamed off his credit card.
‘That might not be a theft – more akin to exploitation or exploitative behaviour – but people had seen this situation developing. One of a person who seemed ripe for exploitation.
‘You may think the people most likely to take advantage would be those who had got up close and personal to him – someone who knew about security failings, who knew about the contents of the safe, who knows how to access the safe. On all those three criteria I suggest the unlikely person would be the defendant.’
Martin Bowyer, prosecuting, insisted later police searches of properties linked British-Lithuanian Ivaskevicius to a cannabis farm, £80,000 cash, stolen cheques and false identities.
He denies theft, possessing criminal property, carrying a British driving
licence with improper intention, producing cannabis and four counts of handling stolen goods.
The trial continues with Judge Deborah Taylor summing up for the jury.