Amine Chikh Bekada: Three years imprisonment for armed and masked theft of jewellery worth $16,000

A French construction worker who stole $16,000 worth of jewellery from a York Street jewellery store has been sentenced to three years in prison. Amine Chikh Bekada, 22, appeared in Perth District Court on May 17 on one charge of aggravated armed robbery. The sentencing was translated for Chikh Bekada, whose first language is French. Clad in a face mask and gloves with his hoodie pulled over his head, Chikh Bekada entered Mark Blyth Fine Jewellery store on York Street on September 30, 2023, and rushed at owner Mark Blyth with a cheese knife. Mr Blyth tried to defend himself but Chikh Bekada wrestled him to the ground, holding the knife close to his neck and head. Chikh Bekada then directed Mr Blyth to open the jewellery cabinets, leaving the store with jewellery worth $16,000. Mr Blyth received a laceration to his cheek and injuries to his back and neck. The incident was captured on CCTV and witnessed by members of the public who directed police to the nearby backpacker hostel where Chikh Bekada confessed to police. Chikh Bekada, from Dijon, entered Australia on a working visa and worked in construction before losing his job. District Court Judge Wendy Gillan said the incident was “clearly thought about” beforehand. “You went and got the mask and the knife prior to going to the shop,” Judge Gillan said. “The whole incident, although relatively short, was a complete surprise to Mr Blyth. “It was violent and he was clearly shocked and very frightened.” Judge Gillan considered Chikh Bekada’s age and plea of guilty as well as the isolating factors during his prison sentence of English as his second language and his unlikeliness to receive visitors. Chikh Bekada’s sentence was backdated to September 30, 2023, to account for time in custody. He was made eligible for parole from March 2025.