Tamara Ecclestone's boyfriend found to be an ex-convict

London, Mar 17 (ANI): Tamara Ecclestone was shocked to discover that not only is her boyfriend Omar Khyami not a stockbroker but he's also an ex-convict who received an 18-month jail sentence for handling stolen watches, and has a conviction for violence.

Khyami had neglected to tell the daughter of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone about his spell behind bars, which he served under a different name.

The 38-year-old, who went by the name Amre Al Khyami at the time of his convictions, has been relishing the limelight he shares with his glamorous girlfriend. But he has not been as keen to discuss being jailed at the Old Bailey in 1994 for his role in a 100,000-pound crime.

The court heard Paul Danquah, 21, carried out a "ferocious" armed raid on a jewellers in Kingston upon Thames, escaping with a haul of Cartier and Rolex watches. He was jailed for nine years. The stolen watches had been passed to Khyami.

Police stopped him driving his mother's Porsche, and asked where he had got the 4,500-pound Cartier watch he was wearing. He told them that watch "was a present from the Sultan of Brunei."

But officers found that Khyami, who said he was the son of a Syrian diplomat, had been making 200 pounds a time from selling the other, stolen watches in an antiques market.

The Porsche he was arrested in was linked to his other conviction after he punched a man he accused of damaging the vehicle. He received community service for that offence.

"It happened 18 years ago when I was a kid. A couple of old school friends recognised me one day and, knowing my financial position at the time, offered me five expensive Rolex watches at half-price," Khyami told the Daily Mail.

"And, as it was seemingly such a good deal, I bought them.

"All I can say is that I was young and very foolish," he said.

Tamara said that she didn't know about the conviction but forgave him as it was in the past.

"Omar had mentioned he'd done something stupid when he was young but I never pressed him on it - as it was obviously something he wasn't proud of.

Of course, I don't condone his actions. But everyone makes mistakes when they are young," she added.

A friend of Khyami said that he had never described himself as a stockbroker, and suggested it was a simple mistake that had been repeated in numerous articles. (ANI)