Celebrity antique dealer Ian Towning has closed his prestigious Chelsea jewelery emporium and decided to leave London after a violent armed robbery left him traumatized.Towning, 78, known for his appearances on TV shows including Dickinson’s Real Deal and Posh Pawn, said he has never fully recovered from a brutal raid on his store in March 2024, during which he was hit over the head with a hammer.
Dealer shocked by violent raid
Towning and her security guard, Mark Simmons, were attacked when armed robbers carrying hammers including sledgehammers stormed her Chelsea jewelry store.CCTV footage of the incident shows the attackers entering the premises, before one of them allegedly attacked the antiquities expert on the head and knocked him to the ground.The gang made away with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery, while Towning and Simmons both suffered injuries during the raid.Speaking about the aftermath, Towning said the attack left her dealing with flashbacks, emotional distress and sleepless nights.He said, “I am almost 80 years old now and it is difficult to recover from such a shock.” He said that this incident has had a very bad impact on his health and well-being.
Conviction came months later
In November 2024, 42-year-old James Dixon and 41-year-old Thomas Loring were convicted of a series of violent robberies and burglaries that took place in and around London, including an attack on Towning’s store.The raid also resulted in additional security costs for the business, which Towning had operated from Chelsea since 1997.
End of an era for Chelsea’s antiques business
The closure marks the end of London’s decades-long association with the antiques trade. Towning was a familiar figure in Chelsea’s antiques scene from the 1970s and built a reputation as a respected jewelery and antiques expert through his television programmes.Reflecting on the decision, he said he had always hoped to continue working at the Emporium for the rest of his career, but ultimately felt unable to recover from the trauma of the attack.The 2024 robbery was the second major violent incident at the store. In 2008, Towning was left bloodied after confronting another gang who reportedly came armed with hammers and guns.
Criticism of London’s crime situation
According to the Daily Mail, Towning blamed London Mayor Sadiq Khan for failing to tackle rising crime in the capital, describing the situation as extremely worrying and claiming there was an increased fear of thefts and robberies among residents and customers.“I think Sadiq Khan has been a disaster for London,” Towning told the Daily Mail. He said, “He only cares about bike lanes and he wants to give money to more youth clubs when someone is stabbed to death. It’s despicable. He’s a joke.”The antiques dealer told the newspaper that security concerns and the impact of repeated criminal incidents contributed to his decision to close the business and leave London.