Crime boss jailed over £1m watch robbery at jewellers

A CRIMINAL who masterminded the robbery of a jewellery store in which watches worth almost £1m were stolen at gunpoint has been jailed for 19 years.

Raigo Malm - known to his criminal associates as The General - organised a gang that flew around Europe to commit high value jewellery robberies.

Estonian national Malm, 40, was yesterday found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery after a re-trial in relation to the raid at Berry’s jewellery store on Albion Street, Leeds, on March 24, 2015.

Three other men - Alar Kajurand, 26, Rainis Kilk, 26, and Tamair Uibopuu, 30 - were found guilty of the robbery conspiracy in November last year but the jury at Leeds Crown Court had been unable to reach a verdict in relation to Malm.

The robbery at Berry’s happened just after 6pm. Kajurand was caught on CCTV wearing a wig as he approached the security door before producing a gun as staff backed away.

Kilk and Uibopuu then entered the store armed with hammers and smashed glass display cases before taking watches.

Members of the public detained Uibopuu on Albion Street while Kajurand and Kilk caught a train to Manchester.

The prosecution said Malm was not present at the robbery but was involved in planning the raid.

Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, told Malm: “The evidence that you were involved in the organisation of the Leeds robbery was overwhelming.

“The courts have to mark offences such as this with sentences that send out the message that people who commit or organise them will find no sympathy here.”

After the case, Det Insp Phil Jackson, of Leeds District CID, said: “Malm was known by his criminal associates as “The General” and was the fixer for this organised criminal gang that flew around Europe to commit high value jewellery robberies.

“We hope Malm’s imprisonment will provide some reassurance to the victims, who were put through terrifying ordeals.

“We also hope it will illustrate to the wider community how criminals who operate internationally can still be brought to justice.”