Football mogul Simon Jordan tells of fury at armed robber who stole £100,000 watch

The former chairman of Crystal Palace today said the “little turd” who robbed him of his £100,000 watch at gunpoint should face a lengthy jail term.

Simon Jordan, 51, was driving his elderly father to the doctor in his Maserati GranTurismo when he was confronted by Adam Yaro, 32, at traffic lights in Croydon. The masked motorcyclist brandished a handgun and threatened to shoot Mr Jordan in the face if he did not hand over the rare Franck Muller timepiece.

Last week at Woolwich crown court Yaro pleaded guilty to the robbery. He had already admitted a string of burglaries in south London and Kent between August 2017 and April this year.

Following the hearing Mr Jordan, who was chairman of Crystal Palace between 2000 and 2010, tweeted: “Yes this little turd is getting sentenced next week and the anticipation is he will get a long custodial sentence … there you are!

“Stick a gun in someone’s face and steal their watch … then you are likely to get a lot of time!!!”

The millionaire, who grew up in Croydon, previously told the Standard that he only handed over the watch because he feared his father Peter, 80, would intervene.

The watch had “sentimental value” because it had been bought to celebrate Crystal Palace’s promotion to the Premier League in 2004, he said.

Mr Jordan’s reign at Selhurst Park ended in 2010 after the club went into administration. Following the robbery he said: “The last time I left Croydon it cost me fifty million quid; the next time I go back there it costs me a hundred grand watch.”

The robbery took place in London Road at about 1pm on March 21.

It came amid a nine-month crime spree by Yaro in which he took Rolex watches, pearls, diamonds, gold and silver jewellery, computer tablets and mobile phones, cameras and a car.

He was arrested at home in Catford on May 2.

Yaro, who pleaded guilty to six burglaries, one robbery, three charges of theft, two counts of driving while disqualified, possession of a firearm, possession of a prohibited weapon, and possession of cannabis, will be sentenced on Friday.