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Mark Cavendish robbery suspect on trial after handing himself in

Yui Mok/PA Wire Peta and Mark CavendishYui Mok/PA Wire
Mark Cavendish and his wife Peta, pictured two months before the robbery, were in their home at the time of the incident

A man has gone on trial accused of being involved in a knifepoint robbery at the home of Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish, having handed himself into police 18 months after a photo appeal.

Mr Cavendish and his wife Peta's home in Ongar, Essex, was broken into on 27 November 2021.

A balaclava-clad gang "threatened the couple" and threatened to stab the cyclist, prosecutors said.

Jo Jobson, 27, denies two counts of robbery at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Prosecutor Edward Renvoize said the intruders took two high-value Richard Mille watches, worth a total of £700,000, in the raid at about 02:30 GMT, while the couple's children were at home.

Mr Renvoize said Mr Jobson, of no fixed address, handed himself into Chelmsford Police Station on 5 June 2023, 18 months after photos of him were first published as part of an appeal.

Mr Jobson is accused of taking a watch, two phones and a safe from Mr Cavendish, and a watch, phone and a suitcase from Mrs Cavendish.

'Well-orchestrated'

The raid was described by the prosecutor as a "well-orchestrated and executed, planned invasion of a home of well-known individuals with the intention of grabbing high-value timepieces".

One of the intruders took Mrs Cavendish's mobile phone and it was later found outside their property, which Mr Renvoize said was a "significant error in what was an otherwise carefully executed plan".

The prosecutor read a statement from Mrs Cavendish in which she said an intruder threatened to stab her husband.

He also read a statement from Mr Cavendish, in which the athlete described the intruders "screaming 'Where are the watches?'" and "demanding to know where the safe and the money were".

Jurors heard two other people were previously convicted "for their involvement in the offences".

Judge Timothy Walker told them to ignore any press reports about the case they may have seen.

The trial continues.

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