Ex Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan reveals he was 'robbed at gunpoint of £100k watch while taking father, 80, to doctor in Croydon'

The former owner of Crystal Palace football club was robbed at gunpoint of his £100k watch in south London.

Simon Jordan, 50, told talkRADIO how he was driving his 80-year-old father to the doctors in Croydon on Wednesday when he was confronted.

He had stopped at the traffic lights in his Maserati when a man on a motorcycle appeared, yelling obscenities and demanding he hand over his watch.

Scotland Yard said armed police rushed to the scene at 1pm, but no arrests have been made.

In a statement, police in Croydon urged anyone who is offered "a rare white gold, blue faced Franck Muller watch" for sale to contact them.

Mr Jordan told talkRADIO Drivetime presenter Eamonn Holmes the thief had "desperate courage" to carry out the armed robbery in the middle of the day.

He said: "Someone fully balaclavad up, pointing a gun at me, said 'Give me the watch.' I said 'no'. 'Give me the watch.' I said 'no'."

Mr Jordan added: "All I'm looking at is this guy getting more and more frantic, telling me how he's going to shoot me in the face.

"I suddenly realised there was a distinct possibility he was going to shoot me and more likely, he may end up shooting my father as well."

He explained how he gave the man his watch about 40 seconds later, who then sped off.

Now a regular presenter on talkSPORT, Mr Jordan said the watch is worth around £100,000 and holds "great sentimental value".

He said he bought the item after Crystal Palace reached the Premier League under his ownership. "It's something that I can't replace," he said.

The businessman said he did not believe he was specifically targeted for being well-known.

He said: "I think the car is a car that attracts attention.

"I don't think they knew what watch I would have on my wrist. I just think they thought the person driving that car might have something worth stealing."

Police are hunting a single male suspect who was wearing black clothing with a black a grey motorcycle helmet, the Met said.

DS Tim Walter from Croydon CID said: "This was a terrifying ordeal and robbery of a man sat in his car waiting at a traffic light. The single suspect has pulled up alongside him and pointed a suspected handgun at him before making threatening demands for his watch.

"No other items were taken. Although shaken the victim did not require hospital treatment.

"My team are doing everything they can to identify the culprit and bring him to justice. This involves the recovery of local CCTV footage and ongoing forensic work.

"The item stolen is a rare white gold, blue faced Franck Muller watch. If you are offered this item for sale or have on information on its whereabouts I would urge you to get in touch."

Anyone with information concerning this robbery is asked to call Croydon CID on 101 quoting CAD 3746/21March or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.