Football legend discovers theft after Hong Kong buyer messages him on Instagram about personalised Paul Insect painting
Football legend Edgar Davids had £188,000 worth of modern art stolen and pawned by a trusted friend who abused her position whilst living at his North London mansion, Wood Green Crown Court has heard.
The 52-year-old former Dutch international allowed Nabila Habiby, 38, to stay at his exclusive Hadley Wood home in 2014, later trusting her to safeguard his possessions when he relocated to a Central London flat in December that year.
But Habiby systematically stole 37 pieces from Davids’ prized contemporary art collection over two years, using them as collateral at pawn brokers to secure £31,500 in loans whilst the footballer believed his artworks were safely stored in an Enfield storage unit.
Hong Kong Instagram Message Reveals Theft
The elaborate fraud unravelled in 2017 when Davids received an unexpected Instagram message from a Hong Kong art buyer who had purchased one of his Paul Insect paintings at auction. The British artist had personalised each piece for the football star by etching his name on the back.
When the buyer contacted Davids to enquire about the story behind the artwork, the bewildered ex-footballer discovered his collection had been sold without his knowledge. He immediately contacted the Metropolitan Police.
“He had trusted her and she had stolen from him. He had an emotional connection to the paintings,” prosecutor Mark Seymour told the court.
Systematic Theft Over Two Years
Habiby, who had lived sporadically with Davids over several months in 2014 and was employed by him as well as being a friend, had been given keys to his home. The court heard she first abused this trusted position in July 2014, taking two “Burning Man” pieces by Paul Insect to secure a £7,000 loan from a broker in Weybridge.
When Davids moved to his Central London apartment, he trusted Habiby to place his possessions, including his extensive art collection, in storage as they wouldn’t fit in his new home. She then raided the storage unit in 2016, using 33 additional Paul Insect works and two pieces by American artist Ron English, dubbed the “Godfather of Street Art,” as collateral for a £24,500 loan from another broker.
The prosecutor revealed Habiby used forged paperwork, including a bogus invoice from the Opera Gallery in New York where Davids had originally purchased the art between 2006 and 2012, to falsely claim shared ownership of the artworks.
Forged Documents and Fire Sale
“She obtained an invoice which had her name on it,” Mr Seymour explained. However, Habiby’s fraud was exposed by amateur mistakes – she used the wrong name for the gallery on the forged paperwork. When contacted, the gallery confirmed the invoice was fake and contained multiple errors marking it as fraudulent.
With no intention of repaying the loans, Habiby’s defaults led to what the prosecutor described as “a fire sale” of Davids’ collection. Twenty-six paintings were sold for approximately £70,000 – substantially below the prices the footballer had originally paid.
Of the 37 stolen artworks, only eleven have been recovered by Davids. Twenty-five paintings remain lost after being sold by the brokers to recoup their losses.
Previous Suspicions and Other Frauds
Court papers revealed Davids had previously suspected Habiby of stealing money and a luxury watch whilst staying at his home, though she denied the allegations and no criminal charges were brought at the time.
The court also heard Habiby was convicted of defrauding another supposed friend in February 2016 – between the two frauds against Davids – by using their bank card to pay almost £3,000 rent on a Cadogan Square flat. She was convicted after trial in 2018, having denied the charge and claimed her friend agreed to cover the payment.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing Warning
Appearing at Wood Green Crown Court this week, Habiby pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud committed in 2014 and 2016. She covered her face with a pink cardigan as she left court. Three further counts of theft will lie on file.
Judge Alexander Jacobs adjourned sentencing until November but warned Habiby she could face imprisonment. “There was an abuse of position, power, trust and responsibility,” he stated. “You understand the fact I am giving you bail and adjourning for reports is not a promise not to sentence you to immediate custody. I will do my absolute best to avoid it if I can, but sometimes it is unavoidable.”
Illustrious Career and Art Collection
Davids, who now lives in Dubai, was prepared to give evidence via video link but this became unnecessary after Habiby’s guilty plea. The tenacious midfielder enjoyed an illustrious playing career with the Dutch national team and club sides including Ajax, Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur.
His art collection, purchased from the Opera Gallery in New York between 2006 and 2012, included unique pieces by Paul Insect and Ron English. The personalised nature of the Paul Insect works, each bearing Davids’ name, ultimately led to the discovery of the theft.
When questioned by police in 2018, Habiby denied stealing artwork from Davids or involvement in frauds. She described herself as a “freelance consultant” with a £5,000-a-month income from her work and parents, stating she was previously “good friends” with Davids but they were no longer on speaking terms.
The case highlights the vulnerability of high-profile individuals to exploitation by those in positions of trust, with Davids’ emotional connection to his art collection adding a personal dimension beyond the substantial financial loss.
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Image Credit:
Edgar Davids — photo by Paul Blank, available under the terms set by the author on Wikimedia Commons
