Man admits to robbing Mark Cavendish at Essex home
28-year-old man pleads guilty to two counts of robbery at Chelmsford Crown Court
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

A man has admitted to robbing the home of current British national road champion and 34 time-Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish.
Ali Sesay aged 28 of Rainham, East London pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery at Chelmsford Crown Court this week.
Sesay admitted to stealing Cavendish’s watch, safe and phone as well as taking his wife Peta's watch, phone and suitcase.
Police reports said that the couple were intimidated and threatened at their house in Essex at 02:35 am on 27 November 2021.
Two other defendants from South-East London, Romario Henry and Oludewa Okorosobo have denied two counts of robbery and are due to stand trial on 3 January. Both of the men were remanded in custody at an earlier court hearing.
In the case of Mr Sesay, Judge Mary Loram QC remanded the 28-year-old in custody and told him that his sentencing would be adjourned until the outcome of the trial of the other two defendants.
At the time of the traumatic incident, police confirmed that nobody had sustained any injuries in the raid although Cavendish said in a statement that his family had “feared for their lives” and were “extremely distressed”.
Further reports from Essex Police confirmed that a Louis Vuitton suitcase and two high-value watches were items confirmed missing.
Earlier this year Cavendish became British National Champion for a second time. The 37-year-old won four stages at the 2021 edition of the Tour de France to become the joint record holder of the most stage wins at the race.
The Manx-man was left out of the most recent edition of the French Grand Tour with his team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl favouring the inclusion of young Dutch sprinter Fabio Jakobsen.
Cavendish is widely expected to be leaving Quick-Step at the end of the current season with B&B Hotels-KTM appearing to be a possible destination for the sprinter.
Jérôme Pineau, manager of the French outfit, has confirmed that discussions have taken place with Cavendish and admitted that “He is someone I like very much. I would love to have him come to us but it’s quite complicated."
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom is a News and Features Writer at Cycling Weekly, and previously worked in communications at Oxford Brookes University. Alongside his day job, prior to starting with the team, he wrote a variety of different pieces as a contributor to a cycling website, Casquettes and Bidons, including interviews with up and coming British riders.
Back in the day, Tom spent many summers visiting family in the South of France, catching the Tour de France from the roadside wherever possible. His favourite races are Strade Bianche and the Tour, and he hopes to ride the white gravel roads himself in the years to come.
-
-
Meet The Joker, a brake-less, chain-less crit racing bike
New York City-based Priority Bicycles today launched a fixed-gear, 70T belt-drive criterium and track racing machine
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Pirelli claims updated P Zero Race TLR tire is 24 per cent faster than before
The tire giant also claims that aramid fibres used improve puncture resistance. Wider tyres on the way
By Rob Spedding • Published
-
Mark Cavendish buys second guard dog for £20,000 after knife point raid
Peta Cavendish said family home had become a reminder of "threat and fear" after home invasion robbery in 2021
By Adam Becket • Published
-
In photos: Mark Cavendish through the years, all his teams and kits
18 years, six teams, 161 wins. Will 2023 be a last hurrah for the British champion?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
CW Live: Mark Cavendish to start season at Oman; Giro wildcards unveiled; UCI updates Covid rules; Amsterdam builds underwater garage for 7,000 bikes; Cavendish family 'terrorised' by robbery; and LTNs do not push traffic onto boundary roads
All the news you need in the world of cycling this Thursday. It's cold!
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Last chance saloon: Why has Mark Cavendish ended up at Astana? And will it work?
The British champion has joined the sixth different team of his professional career in the hunt for one more Tour de France stage win
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mark Cavendish signs for Astana-Qazaqstan and will remain on the WorldTour for 2023
The transfer saga is over, Mark Cavendish has officially found a team, and will chase the Tour de France stage win record
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
CW LIVE: Mark Cavendish threatened with knife in home robbery; Israel-Premier Tech and Uno-X receive wildcard invites to the Tour de France; Sonny Colbrelli looking to enter politics and concerns raised over Van Aert and Van der Poel appearance fees
All the latest news from the world of cycling
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
CW Live: Van der Poel and Pieterse win Herentals CX; Mark Cavendish still not at Astana; Lizzie Deignan awarded MBE; 1.7% of bike theft cases result in a charge; Egan Bernal targets Tour de France return?
Happy new year from Cycling Weekly, here's everything you need to know this Tuesday
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
CW Live: Mark Cavendish reportedly set to sign for Astana; Tom Pidcock smashes Sa Calobra KOM; London cycle lane gritting row; Ineos Grenadiers release new kit; Mathieu van der Poel 'scared' on Val di Sole snow; Lotto-Dstny skipping Giro d'Italia
All the news in the world of cycling you need to read
By Adam Becket • Last updated