The son of celebrity chef Marco Pierre White is back in the headlines, but not for cooking.
Marco Pierre White Jr, 30, has admitted to carrying out a string of burglaries across west London, including stealing £1,500 worth of Jellycat toys, in what prosecutors describe as a brazen crime spree.
Burglaries Across Central and West London
The series of offences began on June 12, when White Jr broke into an Italian deli called La Piccola in Kensington, taking a laptop, tablet, iPod, and a till tray.
Just three days later, he smashed into a private home in Kensington and Chelsea, stealing two natural rock crystal formations and causing £7,775 in damage to the front door.
On June 19, he targeted an antiques shop in Westminster, wrecking four mounted crystals and damaging the entrance door.
The spree continued on July 21, when he broke into a store on Barnes High Street and made off with £1,500 of Jellycat toys.
Court Appearance and Charges
Marco Jr appeared at Isleworth Crown Court via video link from HMP Wandsworth, wearing a grey prison tracksuit.
He admitted to four counts of burglary and one count of criminal damage, while disputing the total cost of damage, which prosecutors estimate at £43,000.
He also denied a robbery charge for allegedly stealing 26 bottles of personal hygiene products from a beauty store in Kensington and Chelsea in May.
A trial for that allegation is scheduled for March next year, unless an alternative plea of theft is accepted.
Legal Representation and Next Steps
Defence lawyer Graeme Logan argued that the £43,000 figure appeared to be a combined total of property stolen and damage caused, which Marco Jr disputes.
Judge Edward Connell adjourned the case for two weeks, stating: “You have pled guilty to serious offences… at some point you will have to be sentenced for that.”
White Jr was remanded in custody pending sentencing.
A History of Trouble with the Law
This is not Marco Jr’s first run-in with the law. Last December, he avoided jail after a suspended 30-week sentence for burglaries in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. His past offences include:
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2016: Spending £2,500 on his ex-girlfriend’s bank card, leading to arrest in Bristol.
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2019: Racially abusing a police officer while heavily intoxicated.
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2022: Pleading guilty to 14 offences, including carrying a knife and racial abuse, and receiving an 18-month prison sentence.
Struggles with Addiction and Attempts at Reform
Marco Jr has been open about his battle with drug addiction, which began at just 13 years old.
He revealed that he has undergone 17 stints in rehab across the UK and the US. After his 2022 release, he vowed to stay clean and even converted to Islam as part of his reform journey.
In a 2023 interview, he reflected on his past:
“I could have done anything I wanted to, but instead I did heroin and ended up in prison.
I have been an idiot. I have thrown every opportunity away.”
Despite repeated brushes with the law, he says prison has been his wake-up call, helping him confront the consequences of his actions and the life choices he once made lightly.
A Cautionary Tale
Marco Pierre White Jr’s latest offences show that even the children of celebrities are not immune to personal struggles and legal consequences.
With sentencing pending, his story remains a cautionary tale of talent, opportunity, and the long road to reform.
