‘It’s hard to recover from trauma’: TV antiques expert decides to close jewelery shop and leave London after hammer attack

Celebrity antiques dealer Ian Towning has closed his iconic Chelsea jewelery store and decided to leave London after a violent armed robbery left him traumatized.Towning, 78, known for his roles in TV shows such as “The Real Deal in Dickinson” and “Pawn,” said he never fully recovered from the brutal attack on his store in March 2024, in which he was hit in the head with a hammer.

Violent attack leaves dealers traumatized

Towning and his security guard Mark Simmons were attacked when armed robbers burst into his Chelsea jewelery shop armed with hammers, including a sledgehammer.CCTV footage from the incident shows the attackers entering the premises and one of them allegedly hitting the antiques expert on the head, knocking him to the ground.The gang escaped with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of jewelery and Towning and Simmons were injured in the raid.Speaking about the aftermath, Towning said the attack left him struggling with memories, emotional distress and sleepless nights.“I am now almost 80 years old and it is difficult to recover from such a trauma,” he said, adding that the incident had taken a toll on his health and well-being.

Convicted a few months later

James Dixon, 42, and Thomas Lorraine, 41, were convicted in November 2024 of a series of violent robberies and burglaries in and around London, including an attack on Towning’s shop.The raid also resulted in increased security costs for the company Towning has run at Chelsea since 1997.

The end of an era for Chelsea’s antiques business

The closure marks the end of a decades-long association with London’s antiques trade. Downing has been a well-known figure in Chelsea’s antiques scene since the 1970s and has gained a reputation as a respected jewelery and antiques expert through television appearances.Reflecting on the decision, he said he had hoped to continue working at the mall for the rest of his career, but ultimately felt unable to escape the trauma of the attack.The 2024 robbery was the second major violent incident at the store. In 2008, Towning was covered in blood after a confrontation with another armed gang, who reportedly arrived armed with sledgehammers and guns.

Criticism of crime in London

Towning accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of failing to tackle rising crime in the capital, calling the situation deeply worrying and claiming residents and customers were increasingly fearful of theft and robberies, the Daily Mail reported.“I think Sadiq Khan is a disaster for London,” Towning told the Daily Mail. “All he cares about is bike lanes and when people are being stabbed and murdered he wants to donate to more youth clubs. It’s disgraceful. He’s a joke,” he added.The antiques dealer told the newspaper that he decided to close his business and leave London because of safety concerns and the impact of repeated crime incidents.