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Securitas robbers await sentence Securitas robbers await sentence
(about 4 hours later)
Five men are due to be sentenced on kidnap, robbery and firearms charges for their part in the £53m raid on the Securitas depot in Kent.Five men are due to be sentenced on kidnap, robbery and firearms charges for their part in the £53m raid on the Securitas depot in Kent.
During the raid in Tonbridge in 2006, depot manager Colin Dixon and his family were kidnapped at gunpoint by men posing as police officers.During the raid in Tonbridge in 2006, depot manager Colin Dixon and his family were kidnapped at gunpoint by men posing as police officers.
The judge warned the men they faced "very substantial" sentences.The judge warned the men they faced "very substantial" sentences.
Since the raid police have recovered £21m of the stolen cash but the remaining £32m is still missing.Since the raid police have recovered £21m of the stolen cash but the remaining £32m is still missing.
Those found guilty were: Stuart Royle, 49, of Allen Street, Maidstone, Kent; Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge; garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, of The Green, Welling, south-east London; Lea Rusha, 35, of Lambersart Close, Southborough, Kent; Emir Hysenaj, aged 28, of New Road, Crowborough, East Sussex.Those found guilty were: Stuart Royle, 49, of Allen Street, Maidstone, Kent; Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge; garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, of The Green, Welling, south-east London; Lea Rusha, 35, of Lambersart Close, Southborough, Kent; Emir Hysenaj, aged 28, of New Road, Crowborough, East Sussex.
This was a callous and highly dangerous crime Roger Coe-Salazar, prosecutor Heist family's ordealThis was a callous and highly dangerous crime Roger Coe-Salazar, prosecutor Heist family's ordeal
Two other men, John Fowler, 59, of Staplehurst, and Keith Borer, 54, of Maidstone, both Kent, were cleared of involvement in the robbery in a trial which lasted seven months. Two other men - John Fowler, 59, of Staplehurst, and Keith Borer, 54, both from Maidstone, Kent - were cleared of involvement in the robbery in a trial which lasted seven months.
The men had all denied conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to possess firearms.The men had all denied conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to possess firearms.
The gang wore prosthetic disguises, normally used by actors, which were made by hairdresser Michelle Hogg.The gang wore prosthetic disguises, normally used by actors, which were made by hairdresser Michelle Hogg.
She was initially charged by police but later agreed to become a prosecution witness.She was initially charged by police but later agreed to become a prosecution witness.
Police said there was evidence of the robbery being planned as far back as July 2005.Police said there was evidence of the robbery being planned as far back as July 2005.
CCTV cameras captured armed robbers holding the Dixon family and 14 members of the depot staff hostage as they loaded cash into the back of a 7.5-tonne lorry.CCTV cameras captured armed robbers holding the Dixon family and 14 members of the depot staff hostage as they loaded cash into the back of a 7.5-tonne lorry.
Cash storage cages were used to imprison the hostages.Cash storage cages were used to imprison the hostages.
The gang left behind £153m because no more could be fitted into their lorry.The gang left behind £153m because no more could be fitted into their lorry.
Prosecutor Sir John Nutting told jurors that the robbers were inspired by the lure of "luxury, ease and idleness" and were prepared to target the "innocent and vulnerable" to achieve it.Prosecutor Sir John Nutting told jurors that the robbers were inspired by the lure of "luxury, ease and idleness" and were prepared to target the "innocent and vulnerable" to achieve it.
Speaking after the jury returned its verdicts, Roger Coe-Salazar, the chief crown prosecutor for Kent, said: "When you have a case of this magnitude it's easy for it to be romanticised like Ocean's 12 as a victimless crime.Speaking after the jury returned its verdicts, Roger Coe-Salazar, the chief crown prosecutor for Kent, said: "When you have a case of this magnitude it's easy for it to be romanticised like Ocean's 12 as a victimless crime.
"There is nothing romantic about a child being held at gunpoint by a masked man. This was a callous and highly dangerous crime.""There is nothing romantic about a child being held at gunpoint by a masked man. This was a callous and highly dangerous crime."
A large quantity of the missing money is thought to be in northern Cyprus and Morocco, in cash and assets.A large quantity of the missing money is thought to be in northern Cyprus and Morocco, in cash and assets.