Advertisement

Danny Pearce murder: Rolex robber known as ‘Ghost’ finally convicted of 2017 killing

Danny Pearce was targeted by moped muggers for his Rolex watch (COLLECT)
Danny Pearce was targeted by moped muggers for his Rolex watch (COLLECT)

A moped mugger known as “Ghost” has finally been convicted of murdering a man for his £7,000 Rolex in south east London.

Father-of-one Danny Pearce, 31, was shot and stabbed in front of girlfriend Stephanie Holland as they walked home from Oliver's Jazz Club in Greenwich.

Two masked men confronted him and demanded his designer watch on King William Walk in July 2017.

When builder Mr Pearce refused, the suspects chased, then cornered him and took turns stabbing him as he lay defenceless in the street.

The whole attack was witnessed by his Ms Holland and two terrified friends, Inner London Crown Court heard.

Prosecutors told jurors Mr Pearce was attacked by two killers wearing crash helmets and balaclavas who had been hunting for victims.

But David Egan, 24, known only as “Ghost”, who was Jordan Bailey-Mascoll’s accomplice, evaded justice for three years.

In the early hours on the day Mr Pearce died, Egan had been looking up Rolex watches on the internet, searching ''How to tell if Rolex is white gold”.

Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police

He also searched for “zombie knife” and “How to take a bracelet off a Rolex” days after Mr Pearce was killed.

Web history showed that newspaper reports about a moped robbery were accessed by him in January 2017.

Prosecutor Sarah Przybylska said the men shouted ''Give me your watch'' as they confronted Mr Pearce and brandished the weapons.

Ms Holland cried ‘Run!'' and as she ran back towards Nevada Street, gun shots were fired.

Watch: What's It Worth?

Mr Pearce was chased up and down the road before Bailey-Mascoll, 28, stabbed him beside a parked car.

Egan then cornered him on the front steps of a flat where he was knifed again, the court heard.

Ms Holland tossed her boyfriend's Rolex at the muggers but they killed him anyway.

Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police

Mr Pearce was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards despite the efforts of paramedics and police to save him.

A post-mortem gave the cause of death as multiple stabbings, but police also found gunshot grazing and evidence of at least four shots fired in his direction as he attempted to flee.

An investigation was launched by homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police

Egan, of Deptford, was found guilty of murder, possessing a firearm and robbery.

He was also convicted of two unconnected robberies in July 2017. He will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, December 7.

Bailey-Mascoll, of Dartford, Kent was convicted of murder and sentenced to life with a minimum 35 years in July 2018.

Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police

Detective Inspector Jo Sidaway, who investigated the case, said: “This was a truly horrific attack that took place in the street after Danny had enjoyed a night out with his girlfriend and their friends.

“He was subjected to a prolonged attack - the offenders chasing him up and down the street.

“Danny tried to seek refuge in a residential property, but as he did so he was repeatedly stabbed. The level of violence shown towards him was shocking.

“Today’s conviction is a result of three years of hard work by my team.

“I am pleased that we have secured the guilty verdict that Danny’s family were desperate to hear.

“They are approaching another Christmas, which should be a time for family, without Danny, our thoughts remain with them.”

Mr Pearce’s watch, a silver Rolex Datejust 2 2017, has never been found.

Detectives would like to speak with anyone offered it to contact them on 101, the incident room number 020 8721 4005 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Watch: The moment Arsenal's Joe Willock crashes his £140,000 car

Read More

New appeal to find man called ‘Ghost’ in brutal Rolex murder