Pep Guardiola after Manchester City’s win at Chelsea (Picture: Sky Sports)
Pep Guardiola hailed ‘extraordinary team’ Arsenal as the ‘best team in this country and Europe’ after Manchester City boosted their title hopes with an impressive win over Chelsea.
Chelsea kept Pep Guardiola’s side at bay in the first half but conceded second-half goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku.
The victory means Manchester City are now just six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who they face at the Etihad Stadium next weekend.
Arsenal, who last won the Premier League in 2004, missed the chance to move 12 points clear of Man City on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Bournemouth.
Looking ahead to next Sunday’s potential title decider against Arsenal, Manchester City boss Guardiola said: ‘The question of this week will be that we are playing next week against a team who in 49 games, lost three.
‘In the Champions League games, they didn’t lose once. I know how difficult it is. They’ve won all the games except one, which they drew.
Man City closed the gap on leaders Arsenal (Picture: Getty)
‘Playing the Carabao Cup with Man City completely as underdogs – there was not one person in the country who bet £1 on us – that’s much better.
‘Now it will be a bit different. Etihad at home, City is on top form, but the respect I have for Arsenal – what they’ve done in the last two or three years, because I know a little but the manager but the players and the quality.
‘How they compete in every circumstances, that will be the biggest job that we have to work in our heads. This tactical issue, but maybe they will adjust something, maybe we adjust something.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are still top (Picture: Getty)
‘But they have been the best team in this country and Europe so far today. Beating Arsenal once is so difficult, imagine beating them twice in a few weeks.
‘So we have to rest, prepare and read exactly what we have to do. But I would like to say to my fans: respect Arsenal a lot.
‘They’re an extraordinary team. They are. It’s not naive, it’s not to make them feel something that they are not.
Man City beat Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)
‘But at the same time: come join us and support us minute one. The players will do the maximum.’
Meanwhile, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes ‘everything changed psychologically’ in the title race this weekend.
‘The senior players in the [Man City] camp will be cool. They think they can get back in this race,’ he said on Sky Sports.
‘This City camp have a different level of confidence. We keep saying ‘it’s not over until it’s over’ because City can come back at any time because they’ve got the squad to do that.
‘In terms of the race, it’s difficult because you go through the fixtures and you think ‘we might pick up points here, we might drop points here’.
‘But ultimately, you’ve just got to do it. I preferred chasing where the pressure is off. Arsenal could have gone 12 points clear yesterday. They didn’t and now it’s six points and Man City have a game in hand.
Tyson Fury will face Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night (Getty)
Tyson Fury returns to the ring tonight as he takes on Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Fury has been retired for 16 months and has not fought since his second defeat against Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.
Makhmudov, meanwhile, heads into the fight after beating Dave Allen by unanimous decision in Sheffield last October.
Fury is targeting a fight against Anthony Joshua later this year, providing he beats Makhmudov tonight.
Elsewhere on the card, Conor Benn takes on Regis Prograis in the co-main event as he makes his debut with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov fight results
Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov full fight card
Tyson Fury returns to the ring against Arslanbek Makhmudov (PA)
Main card
Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov (10:07pm)
Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis (8:55pm)
Richard Riakporhe bts Jeamie Tshikeva by KO
Justis Huni bts Frazer Clarke by MD
Preliminary card
Breyon Gorham bts Eduardo Costa Do Nascimento by KO
Mikie Tallon bts Leandro Jose Blanc by KO
Pawel August bts Simon Zachenhuber by UD
Felix Cash bts Liam O’Hare by KO
Sultan Almohammed bts Hector Avila Lozano by KO
Elliot Whale bts Tom Hill by KO
Ricky Gorman bts Ryan Labourn by UD
How to watch Tyson Fury’s fight on TV and live stream
Tyson Fury’s fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov will be shown live on Netflix.
The entire main card is free to watch for Netflix subscribers.
What time will the Tyson Fury fight start?
Ring walks for Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov are expected to take place at around 10pm tonight and the fight starting shortly after.
Conor Benn’s fight against Regis Prograis is scheduled to start at 8:55pm.
Actor John Nolan has died aged 87 (Picture: Noam Galai/WireImage)
Actor John Nolan, who appeared in films Batman Begins and Dunkirk, has died aged 87.
The British star reportedly died today.
Nolan’s cause of death has not been shared publicly, but was confirmed by a local paper, the Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald.
He is also the uncle of decorated filmmaker Sir Christopher Nolan, having starred in several of his nephew’s blockbuster hits over the years, such as 1998 crime thriller Following.
Some of his most famous roles include Nick Faunt in all seven episodes of 1973 miniseries Shabby Tiger, Wayne Enterprises board member Douglas Fredericks in Batman Begins (2005), the Gotham Tonight promotional segments for The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Christian Bale was the lead Batman in his films.
In 2017 war epic Dunkirk, which boasted an ensemble cast including Cillian Murphy, Sir Mark Rylance, Barry Keoghan, and Harry Styles, Nolan played a blind man who greeted the soldiers upon their return.
He appeared in The Dark Knight Rises’ Gotham Tonight promotional segments (Picture: Warner Bros.)
Nolan played a blind man whose character interacted with Harry Styles’ Alex in Dunkirk (Picture: Warner Bros.)
He was also the main villain in Person of Interest for three seasons (Picture: John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images)
Maintaining his family connections throughout his career, he also starred in nephew Jonathan Nolan’s series Person of Interest, playing mysterious figure John Greer.
He was the show’s main villain from seasons three to five and later helped out behind the camera.
Nolan’s final appearance came in 2024 during an episode of American sci-fi series Dune: Prophecy. He played the Speaker of the High Council.
The London-born theatre veteran had plenty of stage credits, too.
Before breaking into TV and film, he spent two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing in Julius Caesar and The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Richmond Theatre.
Nolan is survived by his wife, Kim Hartman, an actress known for ‘Allo ‘Allo!, whom he married in 1975. They had a son, Tom, and a daughter, Miranda, plus two grandchildren.
He is survived by actress wife Kim Hartman, whom he married in 1975, and their two children (Picture: Noam Galai/WireImage)
Paying tribute to her late husband following the announcement of his death, 74-year-old Hartman described him as a ‘free spirit who always knew what he wanted and acted on his own terms’.
She also called him ‘the only truly original thinker’ she knew.
‘Articulate, intelligent, and with an anarchic wit, he was always willing to see both sides of an argument,’ she added.
Joining in to pay their respects, fans also took to social media with kind words.
@NolanAnalyst on X said the late actor ‘will be greatly missed’, with @storyceptionhq praising him as ‘phenomenal’.
‘He was great in Person of Interest. Condolences to the Nolan family. RIP’, tweeted @Shad27.
‘Aw RIP John Nolan! Always a pleasure to watch him on film in all of these excellent projects’, echoed @ArkingKyle.
@johnnie_torch further praised his ‘great screen presence’ in the Batman franchise, and @LordGichohi declared Nolan ‘one talented old man’.
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Has Ian bitten off more than he can chew? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Things are about to get messy in Walford, and it looks like Ian Beale could be walking straight into trouble while being under the impression he’s about to land himself a new love interest.
Next week on EastEnders, Ian finds himself getting closer to newcomer Bea, but viewers already know there’s more to her than meets the eye. And if this storyline is heading where it seems to be, Ian might seriously regret letting his guard down.
It all kicks off when Bea, after a bit of encouragement from some of Walford’s residents, agrees to go on a date with Ian. On the surface, it sounds harmless enough. Ian’s had his fair share of rocky relationships, so a fresh start might seem like a good idea.
But this is Walford… and nothing is ever that simple.
Before the date even begins, Bea’s behaviour starts raising eyebrows. She becomes noticeably jealous when she learns about Honey Mitchell and Billy Mitchell planning a romantic meal together. Not one to be outdone, Bea decides to copy Honey’s look entirely, buying an identical dress for her own night out.
Bea has been borderline obsessed with Honey since her arrival (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Not exactly subtle.
Things take an even more awkward turn when Honey and Billy head to Knight Fusion for their date, only for Bea to show up… with Ian. Rather than keeping things separate, Bea insists the four of them eat together, turning what should’ve been a quiet meal into a slightly uncomfortable double date.
Bea offers to pay for the entire meal, which might seem generous at first glance. But viewers are already in the know: she’s secretly using a fraudulent credit card in Honey’s name to foot the bill.
So while Honey and Billy are enjoying their evening, completely unaware, Bea is digging herself deeper into dangerous territory and dragging Ian along for the ride.
Despite the tension, Ian doesn’t seem to pick up on anything being off. In fact, as the evening continues, he and Bea grow closer.
Ian has been unlucky in love (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Later on, things take a romantic turn as the pair continue bonding and end up sharing their first kiss.
For Ian, it might feel like the start of something exciting. But for viewers, it’s likely to set alarm bells ringing.
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Bea’s actions so far suggest she’s not to be trusted, and her fixation on Honey, from copying her outfit to stealing her identity, hints that there could be a much bigger scheme at play. The fact that Ian is getting emotionally involved only makes things more worrying.
Could this kiss be the moment that seals Ian’s fate?
EastEnders fans know that Ian has never exactly had the best luck when it comes to relationships, and this latest twist doesn’t look like it’s going to end well. If anything, it feels like he’s being pulled into something far more complicated than he realises.
And with Bea already crossing serious lines, it’s hard to see how this situation doesn’t spiral.
Jassar Mohamed runs three shops in Queensway Market, which faces being replaced with a Whole Foods (Picture: Katie Ingham/Metro)
Traders claim they are victims of ‘assassination by gentrification’ after a popular west London indoor market looks set to make way for a Whole Foods store.
Dozens of small businesses that have traded at Queensway Market for decades have been told they must pull down their shutters for the final time next month.
The market, close to Bayswater station and opposite Hyde Park, has been earmarked for development of Whole Foods store the traders have been told.
They are short lease agreements which mean the owners can give them little notice.
Now they are vowing to fight the move. A petition calling to save the market has hit nearly 570 signatures at the time of publication.
Traders have been told they need to be out by May 28 after the deadline was extended from April 28.
Queensway Market has been popular with locals and tourists for decades, with many enjoying it’s varied offerings of boutiques and restaurants (Picture: Katie Ingham/Metro)
The market has been a ‘go to’ for tourists who enjoy the boutiques, restaurants and second-hand shops which are not part of chains. The extensive maker is like an Aladdin’s Cave which is nestled among recognisable high street staples like Pret and Starbucks. The low lighting inside adds to the mystique.
Mohammad Sultani, 58, who has run a juice stand in the market for 15 years, told Metro: ‘We are devastated. It’s just not right. I serve fresh juice and my customers say it’s the best. I have customers in top jobs who live here and my regulars. Then there are the tourists some who return here every time they visit London. We don’t need another Wholefoods there’s two locally. This is like we are being assassinated by gentrification.
‘I’ve got nothing against Wholefoods, chains or change in general. But there needs to be space in London for small businesses. We can’t afford huge rents.
‘This market adds to the community. We are like a family who is going to have to split up. We are heartbroken.’
Mohammad Sultani, who runs a juice stand in the market, told Metro he is ‘devastated’ by the closure (Picture: Katie Ingham/Metro)
The traders pointed out that there are already two Whole Foods shops in the area with one in Notting Hill and a flagship store on Kensington High Street.
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Isabel Del Campo, 46, who has operated Eva’s hair salon for more than 20 years, said she could not afford to move to another shop.
She said: ‘It’s going to be the end of my business. I’ve been here for more than 20 years I have customers who have been coming back for that long. They are friends more than clients and we have a community here. I know about their lives. The gentrification is ripping the heart out of the community.’
Vito Di Bari, 35, who runs a boutique, said he had sunk his life savings into his business and was on the brink of losing everything he had worked for.
He told Metro: ‘I came from Italy and set up this business and it’s doing well. I’ve worked very hard to make it a success but now it could be over. I specialise in clothes and products aimed at the LGTBQ community and we are like a family. London is becoming full of chains. We need to encourage diversity bit big money is now taking over.’
Vito di Bari says he has put his life savings into his boutique at Queensway Market(Picture: Katie Ingham/Metro)
Tourists and locals told Metro they loved Queensway Market and described it as like a mini version of the world-famous Camden Market in north London.
Portuguese tourists Bernardo Costa, 32, and Teresa Goncalves, 29, who visited the market as part of their four day trip, described it as ‘everything we love about London’.
Bernardo said: ‘This is a great place we just had to come in. It’s 200 per cent what we love about London. It’s a quirky place with loads of character. Too many cities are becoming the same, full of chains. We are seeing changes like that in Lisbon where we live.’
Teresa added: ‘I love this place, its quirky and strange. A taste of the real London. It should not be replaced by a chain. We don’t come to London for chains.’
Hazel Brand uses Queensway Market because she works nearby.She said it’s ‘shameful’ the market is facing closure Caption (Picture: Katie Ingham/Metro)
Hazel Brand, who works nearby, popped into the market to have a watch battery changed.
She told Metro: ‘This place should be preserved. I popped in here for a fix on my watch and the service has been tremendous. I’m not against chains but we need the small businesses as well. I think it’s shameful and disgraceful that the market is facing closure.’
Portuguese tourists Bernardo Costa, 32, and Teresa Goncalves, 29, said the market is similar to Camden’s famous offering and is ‘everything we love about London’ (Picture: Katie Ingham/Metro)
Jassar Mohamed, 51, owns the shop where Hazel had her watch fixed.
He said: ‘We take pride in a personal service which the big chains just can’t offer. I have three shops here and I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have four children and was bringing them in to work with me. Now that dream is in tatters. We in this market are like a happy family we are very close. We will fight on but we are up against rich and powerful organisations.’
A Whole Foods spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm we have signed a lease as a tenant with Bourne Capital, but we don’t have any additional updates at this time.’
Metro has contacted Westminster City Council for comment.
And what does every Grand National need? A sweepstake of course!
Luckily for you, Metro has created the ultimate sweepstake kit to use with your family, friends and work colleagues.
Simply click on the link below to download our PDF and then buzz it over to the printer.
Agree on a stake beforehand and then ask your friends to randomly draw horses out of a hat.
The person with the winning horse will claim the prize fund and, perhaps more importantly, the bragging rights!
Oh, and a word of warning – the final list of horses for the Grand National is notoriously subject to change, so check back with Metro before the race for full confirmation of all the runners.
Which flavour is your favourite? (Picture: M&S/Metro)
It’s no secret that as a nation, we can’t get enough of Marks & Spencer – especially when it comes to the food.
The retailer has become our go-to for picky bits, premium dine-in deals, and of course, many, many sweet snacks.
Over the last few years, one bakery treat has stood out among the rest, though, reaching cult status with shoppers and selling out time and time again: the cookies.
So popular have they proved that M&S has even proclaimed itself ‘the home of cookies’ on its website, adding: ‘From classic gooey favourites to fully-loaded cookie cups, we’ve got every kind of cookie craving covered.’
New flavours are being added all the time – with the most recent being White Chocolate & Raspberry, which launched in Foodhalls on April 8.
Everyone has their favourites, and working out which one is the best of the bunch is no mean feat… but the team at Metro has given it a go and after fierce debate in the office, we’ve come up with a ranking.
Here are the results…
1. Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate was the crowd-pleaser (Picture: M&S)
The milk chocolate proved an all-around crowd-pleaser. Not a single soul at Metro had a bad word to say about it, which is why it claimed our top spot.
Lifestyle reporter Charlie Sawyer declared it her ‘favourite’, sharing: ‘They’re a luxury cupboard staple for a reason, and if you’re looking for an extra dose of sweetness, try dipping one in a mug of hot chocolate.’
And specialist food writer, Courtney Pochin, added: ‘It’s wonderfully soft and chewy, with generous pieces of chocolate, and most importantly, the overall flavour isn’t too sweet.’
Her top tip is to nab a bag of these in summer, then grab yourself a tub of ice cream and put them together to create a glorious ice cream sandwich.
2. Triple Chocolate
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From the latest Walkers flavours to the secret McDonald's menu, Metro Food has it all
The triple chocolate went down a treat with the Metro team (Picture: M&S)
Courtney wanted to put this one firmly at the bottom of the list, but the suggestion sparked uproar, so up it climbed.
Newsletter producer, Dylan Mangan, said: ‘I often find chocolate a bit too rich for me – much prefer jellies if I am to have a sweet treat – but M&S have managed to create a cookie that manages to have the most incredibly chocolatey flavour without ever veering into being too rich.’
First person and opinion commissioning editor, Maicey Navarro Griffiths, agreed it was the ‘best’ M&S cookie choice because of the ‘fudgy and chewy’ texture and ‘intense flavour’ that manages not to be overpowering.
‘It’s like a brownie, and a cookie had a miracle baby,’ she adds.
As it was only available for a limited time at Christmas, some will say this is a controversial choice for third place.
But lifestyle editor, Kristina Beanland, would heartily disagree.
‘I love the aggressive sweetness of the white chocolate, and how it’s complemented by the spiced gingerbread. It’s just a match made in heaven,’ she said.
‘The unsung hero of the cookie, though, is the salted caramel fudge pieces, which add a gooeyness too. I’ve been known to eat all five of the pack in one sitting.’
They might not have been around for long, but they made a big impression.
4. White Chocolate
Simple but stunning (Picture: M&S)
The white chocolate version of the cookie was hailed ‘simple but stunning’ by soaps reporter, Calli Kitson, and she wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
However, a few Metro journalists thought the cookie was ‘overly sweet’, which is why it just missed out on nabbing a spot in the top three.
POLL
Which M&S cookie is your favourite?
Milk Chocolate
Triple Chocolate
White Chocolate
White Chocolate & Raspberry
Peppermint Bark
Speckled Egg
Gingerbread & White Chocolate
I can't possibly pick just one...
5. Peppermint Bark
The festive flavour was popular in the newsroom (Picture: M&S)
Clearly, we’re big fans of Christmas treats at Metro, as this festive flavour also went down a storm with the team.
Sarah Hooper, Metro’s US news reporter, felt they were ‘so addictive’, revealing she always had some at their desk last December.
‘I bought more than a dozen packs around the holidays,’ she confessed.
‘The chocolate and freshness of the peppermint is so perfectly indulgent, they just don’t compare to any other cookies M&S offers.’
Similarly, fellow news reporter, Brooke Davies, described them as ‘divine’.
6. Speckled Egg
This one is rather controversial… (Picture: M&S)
This one is going to get us some hate, as we know it’s a firm favourite among the general public. M&S shoppers were literally begging for its return.
However, at Metro, no one seemed particularly bothered by it, with hardly anyone proclaiming it their overall favourite, meaning it slipped down the list.
Charlie and Eleanor both agreed that it ‘slaps’, but only if you warm it up before eating.
7. White Chocolate & Raspberry
There’s a new cookie in town… (Picture: M&S)
As the newest flavour to be added to the range, most people haven’t had a chance to try this one yet, which is the only reason it’s in last place right now. Give it a few weeks, and we fully expect this one to become a firm favourite.
Courtney gave it a try and said: ‘I’m not always a fan of this flavour pairing, as sometimes it’s very artificially sweet, but M&S has got the balance right with this one. The sweetness of the white chocolate is offset nicely by the refreshing zing of the freeze-dried raspberry pieces.
‘It’s a tad underbaked, and the texture is slightly gritty, which I don’t personally love, but I can still see this one flying off the shelves.’
Honourable mention...
We can’t discuss M&S cookies without giving a shoutout to the Chocolate Button Shortbread.
These get their own special spot, as they’re a shortbread biscuit as opposed to a cookie, but they’re absolutely delicious nonetheless.
A biscuit or a cookie? (Picture: M&S)
Lifestyle reporter Eleanor Noyce said they’d have been her top choice if allowed in the official rankings.
‘I LOVE the crumbliness of the biscuit against the shape of the chocolate,’ she said.
‘I’m a big M&S chocolate button fan in general, but I think it makes a huge difference having those specifically in the biscuits rather than just pieces of chocolate. It feels a little more indulgent.’
A thief who stole a handbag containing a rare Faberge egg and watch set worth more than £2 million has been jailed for two years.
Enzo Conticello, 29, swiped the Givenchy handbag belonging to Rosie Dawson as she stood in the smoking area of the Dog and Duck pub in Bateman Street on November 7, 2024.
Inside the £1,600 bag was an emerald-encrusted Faberge egg and Faberge watch belonging to Ms Dawson’s employers at the Craft Irish Whiskey Company, as well as a £1,500 Apple laptop, Apple AirPods, a £350 store voucher, keys, Ms Dawson’s three bank cards, £200 worth of make-up, a Mulberry card holder worth £150, and £20 in cash.
Southwark Crown Court heard on Thursday that Conticello was after ‘easy money’, and he says he handed over the bag – complete with the Faberge egg and watch – to buy drugs.
At a hearing in February, Conticello – also known as Hakin Boudjenoune – pleaded guilty to three charges of fraud by false representation and one count of theft.
He was linked to the handbag theft after trying to use Ms Dawson’s stolen bank cards in a nearby shop within minutes of committing the crime.
Conticellowas jailed today for two years and three months.
Detectives are still trying to recover the Faberge egg.
The missing Faberge egg which police are still trying to recover (Picture: Met Police)
The watch forming part of the same set that was also stolen (Picture: Met Police)
It is around 10cm high and is green and gold in colour. The missing watch is rose gold with a brown leather strap.
The egg and watch are part of a limited edition run of matching items produced by Fabergé.
In 2024, a similar set of items was auctioned together with a rare bottle of whiskey for $2.8 million (£2 million).
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Prosecutor Julian Winship told the sentencing hearing: ‘On November 7, 2024, at just before 10pm, (Ms Dawson) went to the Dog and Duck pub in Soho.
‘She was outside the premises in the designated smoking area, she put her handbag on the ground in between her legs, and a few minutes later she noticed her handbag was no longer there.’
The court heard Ms Dawson had the Faberge items in her handbag after she had taken them for display at a work event earlier that evening.
Mr Winship said Conticello ‘wanted to obtain some easy cash’, and prosecutors accept he did not intend to steal the Faberge egg and accompanying watch.
Algerian Enzo Conticello, 29, targeted Rosie Dawson, Director of Premium Brands at Craft Irish Whiskey in Bateman Street, Soho (Picture: Central News/Met Police)
Insurers have paid out £106,700 to the drinks company for the loss, but the prosecutor said there are only seven Faberge sets – containing a jewelled egg, watch, cigars and humidor – in existence.
Three had been sold for between two to three million dollars, and the company was seeking similar amounts for the remaining four sets.
Conticello’s barrister, Katie Porter-Windley, told the court he previously worked as a chef but lost his job in the Covid pandemic and slipped into cocaine addiction.
‘On the night in question, it was a moment of opportunity which he took, and he is genuinely remorseful for his behaviour,’ she said.
‘He gave the bag to someone to purchase drugs. He had a cocaine addiction at the time.’
Within minutes of her handbag being stolen, Ms Dawson received a fraud alert on her phone at 10.12pm, showing Conticello had tried to use one of her bank cards for a £33.48 purchase at a shop in nearby Berwick Street.
Two further attempts were made to use her cards, at 11.30pm and 12.30am, but they had already been cancelled with the banks.
‘Early on Friday morning, the complainant received a message on social media from someone who had found her bank card on the ground between Soho and Charing Cross,’ Mr Winship said.
Conticello was arrested for separate theft offences in Belfast in November 2025, more than a year after the handbag theft, and was then linked to the 2024 crime.
The court heard the Faberge egg and watch have not been recovered, and Mr Winship said efforts to seek confiscation or compensation from Conticello will not be pursued.
‘It appears to me unlikely that the defendant is a person of means able to satisfy either of these particular prosecutorial routes available to us,’ said Mr Winship.
Ms Porter-Windley told the court Conticello did not realise how valuable the items were that he had stolen.
When the judge remarked the egg is ‘quite extraordinary looking’, with an emerald forming part of its exterior, the defence barrister replied: ‘It is so extraordinary that he wouldn’t know on the face of it whether that was high value or not.’
She said Conticello was homeless at the time, and he is currently a ‘man of no means’.
The judge said Conticello, of no fixed address, would ordinarily have been ordered to pay £3,000 in compensation to Ms Dawson, but she would not make the order as he has no way of paying it.
He is set to serve up to half the prison term before being released on licence.
