Man Found Guilty of Mugging Harry's Friend

by Tom Sykes Aug 21, 2012 12:23 PM EDT

Harry overhheard attack

A man was found guilty today of mugging a friend of the royals who was speaking to Prince Harry on the phone when the attack happened.

Winful Taylor, 27, of Stockwell, south London, denied robbing Thomas van Straubenzee, taking two mobile phones and a wallet, on November 30 last year.

But he was found guilty by a jury of six men and six women after two hours of deliberation at Kingston Crown Court, south west London.

Van Straubenzee had been talking to Prince Harry on his mobile when the mugging happened at about 7.15pm in Albert Bridge Road. Harry heard the attack, jumped inot a car with his protection officer and raced to the scene of the crime.

Mr van Straubenzee, who is also a close friend of the Duke of Cambridge, first met Harry at Ludgrove Prep School.

The royal brothers are patrons of a memorial fund dedicated to Mr van Straubenzee's brother Henry, who was killed in a car crash in 2002.

Taylor did not give evidence and no defence witnesses were called on his behalf.

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Tom Sykes is a writer and journalist, and he edits The Royalist blog for the Daily Beast. Tom has worked for many publications, including a stint as a nightlife reporter and gossip columnist for the New York Post. He has written several books, most recently helping John Taylor of Duran Duran write and edit his autobiography, published by Dutton. Tom lives in London and Ireland.

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About the Author

Tom Sykes

THE ROYALIST, updated several times daily, reports on all aspects of the British Royal Family. With breaking news and the latest gossip, great pictures and informed commentary, the Royalist is essential eyeballing for fans of the world’s most famous family.