Man admits role in £53m heist

ONE of the men behind Britain’s biggest cash heist, the £53 million (€57.5m) robbery of a Securitas depot, admitted to playing a part in the 2006 hold-up and was told he faces a lengthy prison sentence.

Paul Allen, a 31-year-old cage fighter, admitted three charges of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob, and conspiracy to possess firearms.

Allen, of Chatham, Kent, had been due to face a re-trial at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday because jurors at an earlier trial had been unable to agree on a verdict.

Allen, a father-of-three, made the admissions on the basis that he was neither one of the robbers who entered the depot in Tonbridge, Kent, nor one of the kidnappers of depot manager Colin Dixon and his family.

Sentencing is due to take place next Monday.

Allen fled to Morocco with fellow fighter and best friend Lee Murray after the notorious heist, but was arrested and extradited back to Britain.

Allen’s agreed basis of plea also said he did not handle or obtain any firearms and that he was working for Murray and “did his bidding” in the planning of the robbery. It also stated his only benefit was property in Morocco.

In Morocco, Allen and Murray splashed out on sumptuous villas and jewellery, while thousands of pounds were also spent on plastic surgery for their wives and girlfriends.

The men’s spending spree, which included buying cocaine and gambling in casinos ended after four months when they were arrested by Moroccan police. Allen spent 20 months in a Rabat jail before being extradited.