Robber is cleared of Farhi strangle attack

But Matthew Mykoo was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court of seven other violent "strangulation" robberies in wealthy areas of the capital. He was cleared of eight attacks, including the attack on Ms Farhi and had admitted two others.

Mykoo, 27, of Brent, was on trial for 15 counts of robbery. His brother, Daniel Mykoo, 28 has already admitted 19 offences.

Judge Nicholas Brown warned the brothers they faced possible life sentences.

The trial was told that the brothers acted as a "strangler-robber" team, targeting 19 women and one man.

Their normal method was for Daniel Mykoo to strangle the victims from behind, while his brother approached from the front to rip the jewellery from their bodies.They committed their attacks in areas like Hampstead, St John's Wood, Ladbroke Groce and Chelsea between March and June last year.

Ms Farhi, who is married to the playwright David Hare, told the court she was attacked as she walked to her front door from her garage. She passed out and came too as the robbers took her Rolex watch, cash and a ring from her finger. She told the robbers the watch was of sentimental value' but they refused to give it back.

The trial was told that in one mugging they took jewellery worth £30,000 and on another attack, they tracked a woman for two hours before striking,

The judge adjourned sentence until July 23.