Billionaire's £8.7 Million London Residence Targeted in Dual Burglaries
A multi-million pound townhouse belonging to billionaire Paul Coulson in the exclusive Knightsbridge district of London, situated near the grounds of Buckingham Palace, was burgled twice within a mere four-day period in December last year. Thieves made off with an estimated £1.25 million worth of luxury jewellery, cash, designer handbags, and high-end clothing, according to evidence presented at Southwark Crown Court.
Serial Offender Caught on CCTV with Multiple Holdalls
The court heard that one of the culprits, 46-year-old Ali Lamnouar from Chelsea, was captured on closed-circuit television footage entering the £8.7 million property twice on December 5, 2025. Lamnouar was seen carrying four large black holdalls with straps, which he used to load up with valuables from the home. Initially, prosecutors accused him of being responsible for the entire £1.25 million haul, but they later revised this estimate after discovering the residence had been burgled a second time just days later, between December 5 and 8.
Prosecutors now assert they can only definitively link Lamnouar to stealing possessions valued at £163,835 from Mr. Coulson's home. Lamnouar has pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, including the raid on the billionaire's property and another break-in at a separate London residence where approximately £50,000 worth of items were stolen while the owner was present inside.
Staggering Array of Designer Goods Recovered
Among the stolen goods recovered from Lamnouar's home were an extensive collection of luxury items. These included designer coats, dresses, and jackets, alongside handbags from prestigious brands such as Prada, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent. One particular Chanel handbag was valued at an astonishing £14,000. The haul also featured a £4,500 Cartier love bracelet, a pair of pearl earrings, a necklace worth £23,500, and a ring appraised at £29,000.
Recorder Elliot Gold noted that Lamnouar was identified in connection with the burglary at Mr. Coulson's residence thanks to CCTV footage from the night of December 5 and evidence from his mobile phone placing him in the vicinity. "Having visited it (the property), he returned into the view of the CCTV carrying large black holdalls with straps which he put on the pavement," Recorder Gold stated. "CCTV shows him entering the property on two occasions carrying four holdalls."
Victim's Distress and Offender's Extensive Criminal Record
The court further heard details about the other burglary Lamnouar committed, where the victim was home during the raid. Watches valued at £38,000 were stolen from a bedroom drawer, along with roughly £10,000 in cash. The judge highlighted the psychological impact on this victim, who suffered the "distress of his home having been entered while he was present." The individual, who was not named in court, subsequently installed additional security measures but expressed relief that no direct confrontation had occurred.
Lamnouar was on bail for this first break-in when he targeted Mr. Coulson's home. The judge revealed that Lamnouar already has a lengthy criminal record, comprising 36 convictions for 76 offences. This includes a series of burglaries dating back to the 1990s, underscoring a persistent pattern of criminal behaviour. Lamnouar has been remanded in custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for April 30 after the judge agreed to adjourn the case for further inquiries into the precise value of the stolen items.
Billionaire Homeowner's Background
Paul Coulson is the founder of the Ardagh Group, a global packaging supplier, and is recognised as one of Ireland's wealthiest individuals. His fortune was estimated at $2.8 billion in 2021. The repeated targeting of his high-value London property highlights the risks faced by ultra-high-net-worth individuals in prime real estate locations, even in areas perceived as secure.
This case sheds light on the sophisticated operations of burglars targeting luxury homes and the challenges in accurately valuing stolen high-end goods during legal proceedings. The adjournment for further valuation inquiries indicates the complexity involved in assessing such exclusive items, which often have subjective market values.
