Nottinghamshire detectives win award for probe into £3.5m tiara theft
An art gallery was raided back in 2018
A team of detectives have won an award after bringing down gang members involved in the theft of a £3.5million tiara.
Nottinghamshire Police began a major investigation after the carefully planned raid at an art gallery on the Welbeck Estate on 20 November 2018.
The audacious break-in was later linked to a series of violent robberies – including at the homes of two international footballers.
Following a lengthy investigation spanning more than two years, six men were found guilty of a variety of offences including conspiracy to commit burglary, converting criminal property, and robbery.
They were jailed for over 100 years.
The team of detectives whose tenacity led to the convictions were recognised at Nottinghamshire Police’s annual Force Awards on Tuesday (25 April).
They were nominated for the Investigation of the Year Award by their inspector Gayle Hart, who herself delayed her retirement to see the case through.
She said:
“The team devoted countless hours to what became one of the most complex investigations I’d ever known.
“As a result of their dedication and determination to get justice for the victims, ruthless criminals were taking off the streets for a very long time.
“They should all feel very proud at what they achieved in this case.”
The team included Det Sgt Rick Ellis, Det Con Stuart Kirkham, Det Con John Wilson, Det Sgt Simon Blinston and analyst Sally Marshall.
Their investigation – called Operation Tinge – began after offenders wearing boiler suits and motorcycle helmets smashed their way into the Harley Gallery, on the Welbeck Estate in Sherwood Forest, and made off with a diamond encrusted tiara worth around £3.5million.
A matching brooch was also stolen alongside the Portland Tiara, which was made for the Duchess of Portland to wear at the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902.
Following extensive and detailed inquiries, the team of detectives were able to link the raid to a series of subsequent robberies and burglary in early 2019 when they raided a shop (Paris Jewels) in London’s Hatton Garden.
Inside they found a plastic bag containing a stash of jewellery and an FA Cup runners-up medal stolen the day before from the home of a professional footballer.
The detectives then worked backwards, using mobile phone and traffic camera analysis to link gang members to the same shop the day after a series to violent robberies across Nottinghamshire and Surrey.
It was a protracted investigation and the detectives needed to manage daily demand while working long hours on the case.
Detective Constable Stuart Kirkham said he and his colleagues were pleased their efforts had been recognised at this year’s Force Awards ceremony.
He said:
“A huge amount of work went into this investigation and I wasn’t fully aware of the weight I’d been carrying around for three years until the jury returned with their verdicts.
“The sense of relief as the burden lifted was unforgettable. I just hope that the victims felt something similar.
"I’m really proud to have been involved in the investigation, especially with the group of people who helped bring it together.
“This was the most complicated and protracted case I’ve ever been a part of and my abilities were definitely pushed to their limits, but I learned some new skills along the way which have helped a lot with later investigations.”