Men jailed for knifepoint raid at Cavendish home

Two men have been jailed for a knifepoint robbery at the family home of elite cyclist Mark Cavendish.

Romario Henry, 31, of south-east London, and Ali Sesay, 28, of Kent, broke into Mr Cavendish's home in Ongar, Essex, on 27 November 2021.

Henry, who denied the crime, was found guilty of two counts of robbery last month. Sesay pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Chelmsford Crown Court sentenced Henry to 15 years in prison and Sesay 12.

The court was told the balaclava-wearing intruders broke into Mr Cavendish's home and threatened to stab the Olympian.

Mr Cavendish's wife Peta and children were in the property at the time.

Henry, of Bell Green, Lewisham, and Sesay, of Holding Street, Rainham, stole items including two Richard Mille watches with a combined value of £700,000.

Judge David Turner, sentencing, said: "This was planned, targeted, orchestrated, ruthless offending aimed at an internationally known sportsman and his wife who happened to be brand ambassadors for exceptionally valuable Richard Mille watches."

Sesay also admitted to six unrelated firearms offences and was sentenced to a further eight years in prison, consecutive to the 12-year jail sentence for the robbery.