Teenager Admits Machete Robberies Targeting TV Presenter and Actress
Zacariah Boulares, now aged 19, has confessed to a series of violent robberies targeting high-profile individuals in affluent areas of London. The youth, armed with a machete, threatened television presenter Aled Jones and attempted to steal from Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour, leaving his victims deeply traumatized.
Systematic Targeting of Wealthy Victims
Southwark Crown Court heard that Boulares engaged in what a judge described as a "systematic pattern of stealing from people as they are enjoying a meal or refreshment at a restaurant." The teenager specifically sought out wealthy neighborhoods for what he considered "rich pickings," demonstrating a calculated approach to his crimes.
Boulares has accumulated an extensive criminal record with 12 convictions for 28 offences, including violence, threatening behavior, weapon possession, and multiple thefts. His crimes span several years, beginning when he was just 16 years old.
Violent Confrontations with Celebrities
In one particularly disturbing incident, Boulares followed Aled Jones along Chiswick High Road in west London while brandishing a machete. The teenager pointed the weapon at the television presenter's face, stole his £17,000 Daytona Rolex watch, and issued terrifying threats.
"Give me your Rolex or I will cut your arm off," Boulares shouted during the robbery. When Jones attempted to follow him afterward, the youth escalated his threats, warning: "Walk the other way or I will cut your head off."
The attacker struck again in February 2025 when he attempted to steal Genevieve Chenneour's iPhone 14 at a Joe and the Juice branch on Kensington High Street. CCTV footage captured the moment the actress fought back as Boulares reached for her phone, with the confrontation ending when he was wrestled to the ground by bystanders.
Additional Victims and Delayed Justice
Beyond the celebrity targets, Boulares admitted to stealing from a blind woman's handbag at a Five Guys restaurant in Kensington and taking another woman's rucksack as she dined at Pizza Pilgrims near Carnaby Street. He also confessed to attempting to steal a Rolex watch from Neil Tallantire in broad daylight outside a Waitrose in Bayswater in August 2023.
Judge Mark Weekes expressed serious concerns about the delayed prosecution, questioning why it took two and a half years to bring the case against Boulares to court despite clear CCTV evidence. "He must be bewildered about what's taken quite so long to bring this case to court," the judge remarked, demanding explanations from both the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police.
Psychological Assessments and Previous Sentences
The court will consider psychological reports on Boulares before his sentencing on June 19, with medical experts assessing him for possible diagnoses of autism and ADHD. Judge Weekes indicated he would contemplate a finding of dangerousness against the youth.
Boulares has already served time for previous offences, receiving a 22-month sentence in July 2025 for the attempt to steal Ms. Chenneour's phone and the theft from a blind woman. He was also sentenced to a 24-month youth detention and training order for stealing a £20,000 Rolex from a man in his 70s at Paddington station.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC previously criticized Boulares' attitude during sentencing, noting: "You seem to be plagued by an attitude that if people can afford nice things, then you can take them." The judge emphasized the profound impact on victims, some of whom now feel they "don't want to come to London or they should leave London" due to the trauma.
Boulares remains in custody awaiting his June sentencing, where Judge Weekes has warned him to expect "a substantial custodial sentence." The case highlights ongoing concerns about youth violence and delayed justice in London's court system.
