Mabbutt watch 'thief' due in court

Gary Mabbutt was slightly injured in the incident

A 19-year-old man is due in court charged with stealing a Rolex watch from former England footballer Gary Mabbutt.

Damien Burke, unemployed, from East Acton, will appear at West London Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, charged with robbery.

He is further charged with criminal damage to Mabbutt's car.

Mabbutt's £10,000 watch was snatched from his wrist as his Mercedes car was stuck in a traffic jam in Shepherd's Bush, London, on 14 February.

'Memento'

Mabbutt was driving to take part in a television series about the European Champions League football tournament.

The former Tottenham Hotspur captain, who bought the watch as a memento when his side won the FA Cup in 1991, was slightly injured.

Mabbutt, 37, joined Tottenham in 1982 from Bristol Rovers and appeared more than 600 times for the club. He won 16 England caps.

In 1994 he was made an MBE for services to the game.