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Hatton Garden jewellery heist: Final three guilty over £14m burglary | Hatton Garden jewellery heist: Final three guilty over £14m burglary |
(about 17 hours later) | |
The gang of "brazen burglars" involved in the £14m Hatton Garden jewellery raid are facing jail after the final three were convicted of involvement. | The gang of "brazen burglars" involved in the £14m Hatton Garden jewellery raid are facing jail after the final three were convicted of involvement. |
The "largest burglary in English legal history" took place at Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd in London's jewellery quarter over Easter last year. | The "largest burglary in English legal history" took place at Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd in London's jewellery quarter over Easter last year. |
Four "ringleaders" had already pleaded guilty. Two had been involved in the Brinks Mat and Security Express raids. | Four "ringleaders" had already pleaded guilty. Two had been involved in the Brinks Mat and Security Express raids. |
The gang raided safe deposit boxes for jewels after boring into the vault. | The gang raided safe deposit boxes for jewels after boring into the vault. |
Carl Wood, William Lincoln and Hugh Doyle were connected to the £14m Hatton Garden jewellery raid, a jury at Woolwich Crown Court decided. | Carl Wood, William Lincoln and Hugh Doyle were connected to the £14m Hatton Garden jewellery raid, a jury at Woolwich Crown Court decided. |
Jon Harbinson - Lincoln's nephew - was cleared of playing a part in the heist last Easter weekend. He has been set free after eight months in custody. | Jon Harbinson - Lincoln's nephew - was cleared of playing a part in the heist last Easter weekend. He has been set free after eight months in custody. |
Four men - Brian Reader, Kenny Collins, Terry Perkins and Daniel Jones - had admitted conspiracy to commit burglary. | Four men - Brian Reader, Kenny Collins, Terry Perkins and Daniel Jones - had admitted conspiracy to commit burglary. |
Two other people were convicted earlier in connection with criminal property offences. | Two other people were convicted earlier in connection with criminal property offences. |
During the raid the gang used heavy cutting equipment to get into a vault at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd and ransack 56 safe deposit boxes. | During the raid the gang used heavy cutting equipment to get into a vault at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd and ransack 56 safe deposit boxes. |
CCTV footage showed some of the gang members arriving in a white van and unloading tools, on 2 April. | CCTV footage showed some of the gang members arriving in a white van and unloading tools, on 2 April. |
However, they were unable to gain access to the vault after discovering it was blocked off by a metal cabinet. | However, they were unable to gain access to the vault after discovering it was blocked off by a metal cabinet. |
They returned with different equipment two nights later to finish the job. | They returned with different equipment two nights later to finish the job. |
The Hatton Garden Job | |
Comic strip: How the raid was carried out | |
Once inside, they used the lift shaft to access the basement, disabled the alarm and bored through the vault wall. | Once inside, they used the lift shaft to access the basement, disabled the alarm and bored through the vault wall. |
They were eventually seen emerging from the building with holdalls and wheelie bins laden with stolen goods. | They were eventually seen emerging from the building with holdalls and wheelie bins laden with stolen goods. |
Gold, diamonds and sapphires, together worth up to £14m, were taken. Two thirds of the valuables remain unrecovered. | Gold, diamonds and sapphires, together worth up to £14m, were taken. Two thirds of the valuables remain unrecovered. |
Det Supt Craig Turner from the Metropolitan Police said: "The weight of evidence was so strong that half the gang chose to plead guilty. | Det Supt Craig Turner from the Metropolitan Police said: "The weight of evidence was so strong that half the gang chose to plead guilty. |
"It was an audacious, brazen burglary that was some three years in the planning." | "It was an audacious, brazen burglary that was some three years in the planning." |
Another man, known only as "Basil", who let his co-conspirators into the Hatton Garden building by opening the fire escape from inside is yet to be identified. | Another man, known only as "Basil", who let his co-conspirators into the Hatton Garden building by opening the fire escape from inside is yet to be identified. |
The police are offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. | The police are offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. |
Reviewing lawyer Ed Hall from the Crown Prosecution Service said: "The four main ringleaders, a close-knit group of experienced criminals, some of whom had been involved in other high-value crimes, pleaded guilty after realising the strength of the case against them. | Reviewing lawyer Ed Hall from the Crown Prosecution Service said: "The four main ringleaders, a close-knit group of experienced criminals, some of whom had been involved in other high-value crimes, pleaded guilty after realising the strength of the case against them. |
"As a result of this trial, three other men who played significant roles, including the moving and concealing the stolen gold and jewels, have also been convicted." | "As a result of this trial, three other men who played significant roles, including the moving and concealing the stolen gold and jewels, have also been convicted." |
Defendants and verdicts | |
The court heard the conspirators would meet to make plans at The Castle pub on Pentonville Road in Islington, and Scotti's, a nearby cafe. | The court heard the conspirators would meet to make plans at The Castle pub on Pentonville Road in Islington, and Scotti's, a nearby cafe. |
During the trial it was revealed that Reader had been involved in the £26m Brinks Mat gold bullion robbery, and Perkins in the £6m Security Express raid which both took place in 1983. | During the trial it was revealed that Reader had been involved in the £26m Brinks Mat gold bullion robbery, and Perkins in the £6m Security Express raid which both took place in 1983. |
They were arrested after police bugged their cars and heard them bragging. | They were arrested after police bugged their cars and heard them bragging. |
Perkins was heard saying: "I'm going to melt my good gold down. The Indian, the 18, that could be my pension." | Perkins was heard saying: "I'm going to melt my good gold down. The Indian, the 18, that could be my pension." |
During the case, prosecutor Philip Evans told the jury: "These four ringleaders and organisers of this conspiracy, although senior in years, brought with them a great deal of experience in planning and executing sophisticated and serious acquisitive crime not dissimilar to this. | During the case, prosecutor Philip Evans told the jury: "These four ringleaders and organisers of this conspiracy, although senior in years, brought with them a great deal of experience in planning and executing sophisticated and serious acquisitive crime not dissimilar to this. |
"This offence was to be the largest burglary in English legal history." | "This offence was to be the largest burglary in English legal history." |
There was no forensic trace left at the vault by the gang, but police found a number of stolen goods during house searches as well as a copy of Forensics For Dummies at Jones's house and a book on the diamond underworld at Reader's home. | There was no forensic trace left at the vault by the gang, but police found a number of stolen goods during house searches as well as a copy of Forensics For Dummies at Jones's house and a book on the diamond underworld at Reader's home. |
All seven are expected to be sentenced on 7 March. | All seven are expected to be sentenced on 7 March. |
Special reports into the Hatton Garden raid | |
It can now be reported that Perkins' daughter, Terri Robinson, 35, of Sterling Road, Enfield, also faces being jailed. She pleaded guilty to concealing, converting or transferring criminal property. | It can now be reported that Perkins' daughter, Terri Robinson, 35, of Sterling Road, Enfield, also faces being jailed. She pleaded guilty to concealing, converting or transferring criminal property. |
Her brother-in-law, Brenn Walters, 43, who is also known as Ben Perkins, admitted the same offence. | Her brother-in-law, Brenn Walters, 43, who is also known as Ben Perkins, admitted the same offence. |
The Met Police had faced criticism over its handling of the case after it emerged it had not followed procedures after receiving a call from a security firm about an intruder alert at the premises at midnight on Good Friday. | The Met Police had faced criticism over its handling of the case after it emerged it had not followed procedures after receiving a call from a security firm about an intruder alert at the premises at midnight on Good Friday. |
Following the verdict, Det Supt Turner said: "We apologise for not actually attending the alarm. It is quite clear that police should have attended. We have reviewed all our systems and processes." | Following the verdict, Det Supt Turner said: "We apologise for not actually attending the alarm. It is quite clear that police should have attended. We have reviewed all our systems and processes." |