Convicted robber of Kim Kardashian passes away a month later

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Kim Kardashian’s ‘grandpa robber’ has died just a month after he was convicted of stealing jewellery worth $10 million from the reality television star.

Didier Dubreucq, 69, was diagnosed with lung cancer during pre-trial detention and had been undergoing chemotherapy.

He was among 10 suspects to be tried earlier this year for stealing jewels from the American influencer, including a huge diamond ring from her now ex-husband, rapper Kayne West.

Dubreucq, who police nicknamed ‘Blue Eyes’ due to his piercing gaze, was accused of being the second person who stormed into Kardashian’s hotel room on the night of October 2-3, 2016, but he denied the charges.

A Paris court last month sentenced him to seven years in jail, including five suspended, over the robbery.

He was absent for the ruling as he was undergoing chemotherapy, and did not return to jail as he had already served his two years in pre-trial detention.

In April, he had however turned up in court after a chemotherapy session to say he had ‘nothing to do’ with the theft.

He said he did not like to be labelled an ‘armed robber’ despite having served a 23-year sentence for past armed robberies.

Kim Kardashian ‘s ‘grandpa robber’ has died just a month after he was convicted for his spectacular heist, according to reports. Didier Dubreucq (pictured), 69, suffered from lung cancer and had to be hospitalized during the trial for the 2016 armed robbery

Dubreucq, was part of a gang of notorious criminals who went on trial in Paris in April accused of the terrifying gun-point robbery of reality TV star Kim Kardashian (pictured), in a £8.5 million jewellery heist

This court sketch made on April 28, 2025 shows co-accused Didier Dubreucq during the trial

‘I’m a good guy,’ he said, rejecting suggestions that he was a ‘thug’.

Since becoming a father at the age of 50, Dubreucq said, he had put an end to the ‘big mistakes’ of the past.

None of the eight people convicted last month returned to jail, including 69-year-old ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache, because of the time they had spent behind bars awaiting trial.

A few hours after the verdict, Dubreucq addressed the court in a letter read by his lawyer.

‘I never participated in this jewelry theft. You don’t condemn a man on the altar of suspicion and doubt,’ he wrote.

Dubreucq even addressed a few words to Ms Kardashian, who was held captive and gagged during the robbery, as well as to Abderrahmane Ouatiki, receptionist at the hotel where the star was staying at the time of the events.

‘The ordeal they endured deeply disturbed them, and I felt the trauma they are experiencing today in their voices. It did not leave me indifferent. I dare to hope that in time they will find the path to healing,’ he said.

Dubreucq, was part of a gang of notorious criminals who went on trial in Paris in April accused of the terrifying gun-point robbery of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, in a £8.5 million jewellery heist.

The guilty verdict was handed down on May 23, but Dubreucq did not attend court that day. Pictured: Kim Kardashian leaves the courthouse after testifying

This court sketch made on May 13, 2025 in Paris shows US celebrity Kim Kardashian testifying before the Assize Court for the trial

Pictured: Inside the Kim Kardashian Paris heist crime scene

The audacious early hours raid in October 2016 took place at the height of Paris Fashion Week, and at the height of the socialite’s fame.

Ms Kardashian, now 44, was alone in the penthouse apartment of her £13,500-a-night hotel, dozing on the bed in a silk night gown, when two men disguised as policemen burst into the room and put a gun to her head.

The celebrity was bound and gagged, ‘like a sausage’ and dumped in the bath of her ensuite bathroom while robbers spent 49 minutes snatching millions of pounds worth of gems and watches including her 18.88 carat diamond engagement ring.

As they fled, one robber dropped a platinum cross adorned with diamonds that was found the next morning.

Visibly traumatised Kim Kardashian fled the country by private jet after giving a brief statement to French detectives and was consoled by then husband Kanye West who halted a concert, telling fans he had a ‘family emergency’.

In the intervening years, the mother told how she feared she would be killed and pleaded for her life, crying: ‘Don’t kill me, I have babies!’

Ms Kardashian has been denied justice for years, with delays on bringing the case to court blamed on the priority of high-profile terrorist trials.

Old Omar denied he was the mastermind of the heist. He instead said another man, who he refused to name, presented the opportunity to him. He claimed this man presented detailed plans to him, including layouts of the hotel building and pictures of Kardashian wearing the prized jewellery

There were also fears that the publicity of this trial would destroy Paris’ reputation as a high-class tourist destination ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games.

But last month the reality TV star re-lived her terrifying ordeal almost nine years ago when she gave evidence in the trial.

A career criminal known as ‘Old Omar’ is accused of masterminding the heist that was France’s highest value robbery in a decade and threatened the city’s reputation as the ultimate high-class tourism destination.

The advanced age of Omar, real name Aomar Ait Khedache, at 68, and his right-hand man Yunice Abbas, at 72, has led the gang to be known as the ‘Grandpa Robbers’.

Omar’s 79-year-old mistress Christiane ‘Cathy’ Glotin was also said to be involved.

Both men admitted taking part in the robbery as their DNA was found on the ties used to bind Ms Kardashian’s hands and feet ‘like a saucisson’, as it is known in French slang.

Old Omar denied he was the mastermind of the heist. He instead said another man, who he refused to name, presented the opportunity to him.

He claimed this man presented detailed plans to him, including layouts of the hotel building and pictures of Kardashian wearing the prized jewellery.

Kardashian sentences in full

The following four defendants were found guilty of ‘armed robbery in an organised gang’ and with ‘kidnapping’.

Aomar Aït Khedache, 69. Known as ‘Old Omar’, he was first imprisoned on drug offences at the age of 14, was released from a remand cell in April 2020. He has publicly admitted kidnapping and robbing Kim Kardashian. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison, with 5 suspended.

Yunnis Abbas, 72. Abbas has also admitted the offences, and written a book called ‘I kidnapped Kim Kardashian.’ He was sentenced to 7 years in prison, with 5 suspended.

Didier Dubreucq, 69. Allegedly was the second robber to enter Kim Kardashian’s penthouse, along with Old Omar. He denied any wrongdoing. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison, with 5 suspended.

Marc-Alexandre Boyer, 36. A self-styled ‘dog babysitter’, Boyer was sentenced to six years for drug offences in 2013, but cleared on appeal, and let out out of prison in July 2016, just three months before the Kardashian heist. He denied being involved in the Kardashian heist, but the prosecution proved otherwise. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison, with 5 suspended.

The following defendants were charged with various offences, ranging from ‘complicity in the crimes’ against Kim Kardashian to ‘association with criminals’ and ‘concealment’ of stolen property.

Christiane ‘Cathy’ Glotin, 79. She was described in court as a ‘co-mastermind’ of the Kardashian heist, and was said to have travelled to Antwerp to try to sell the swag. She was living with Aït Khedache at the time of the robbery. She denied any wrongdoing, but was found guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison, all of them suspended.

François Delaporte, 61 . The convicted drug trafficker and counterfeit bank note dealer was originally said to have been caught on surveillance cameras around the scene of the robbery. He was alleged to have been ‘associating’ with the gang, and ‘possessing false administrative documents.’ He denied any wrongdoing, but was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison, all of them suspended.

Harminy Aït Khedache, 38. Known as ‘Mimi’, Old Omar’s son was said to have acted as getaway driver on the night of the Kardashian heist. He denied any wrongdoing, but was found guilt and sentenced to five years in prison, four of them suspended.

Marc Boyer, 62. The father of Marc-Alexandre Boyer was charged with ‘possession of a category B firearm without authorisation’ – namely the German World War I Mauser 7.65mm pistol used to attack Ms Kardashian. He denied any wrongdoing, but was given a fine equivalent to £4500 after being found guilty.

Florus Héroui, 52. The bar manager who allegedly passed on information about Kim Kardashian’s movements in Paris to Old Omar, Héroui had close personal links to Ms Kardashian’s official driver in Paris. He denied any wrongdoing, and was aquitted.

Gary Madar, 34. The clean-cut VIP greeter and celebrity fixer worked for the car company used by Kim Kardashian when she was in Paris. He was said to have provided detailed information about her movements to the heist gang. He denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted.

Two alleged members of the gang who played no part in the trial that has just ended were:

Pierre Bouianère, 72. He was alleged to be one of the five robbers who entered the Kardashian property. He was excluded from the trial, because of Alzheimer’s disease. He denied any wrongdoing.

Marceau Baum-Gertner, 72. The alleged fence for the gang was charged with ‘concealment of stolen gold, jewels and watches’, but died suddenly in April. Before his death, he denied any wrongdoing.