10/07/2006

Nine appear in court over £53m Securitas raid

Nine people have appeared in court charged in connection with the £53 million robbery at a Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent.

Six men and three women appeared at the Old Bailey via video link at the plea and case management hearing.

The case has now been adjourned until October 3 and a provisional trial date has been set for April 16 next year.

The nine people who appeared in court on Monday were:
  • John Fowler, 60, of Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst, Kent - charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, three counts of kidnapping the depot manager, his wife and son and handling stolen goods
  • Raluca Millen, 25, of Dudley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, - charged with conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to kidnap
  • Roger Coutts, 29, of The Green, Welling, south east London - charged with conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to kidnap
  • Katie Philip, 23, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge - charged with conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to kidnap
  • Stuart Royle, 47, of Allen Street, Maidstone, Kent - charged with conspiracy to rob
  • Jetmir Bucpapa, 25, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge - charged with conspiracy to rob
  • Lea Rusha, 34, of Lambersart Close, Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells - charged with conspiracy to rob
  • Ermir Hysenaj, 26, of New Road, Crowborough, East Sussex - charged with conspiracy to rob
  • Kim Shackleton, 39, of Allen Street, Maidstone, Kent - charged with handling stolen goods
A tenth person, Keith Borer, 53, of Hempstead Lane, Maidstone, pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods, when he appeared before Maidstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He was released on conditional bail.

Police are also seeking the extradition of Lee Murray, 26, who was arrested in Morocco last month in connection with the robbery.

February's £53m robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge was the largest cash robbery ever to take place in Britain.

Police have recovered around £20m of the stolen cash.

(KMcA/SP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 April 2006
Man remanded over Securitas raid
A 26-year-old man has appeared in court charged in connection with the £53 million Securitas depot robbery. Ermir Hysenaj, of Crowborough, East Sussex, is accused of conspiracy to rob in connection with the robbery, which took place on February 22. He was remanded in custody at Maidstone Crown Court today and is due to reappear in court on June 12.
03 March 2006
Millions found in depot raid investigation
Police investigating the £53 million robbery at the Securitas depot in Kent have recovered several million pounds in a raid in southeast London. Bags of cash discovered at the scene of the raid - an industrial estate in Welling - are now being examined.
02 March 2006
Three in court over £53 million robbery
Three people have appeared in court charged in connection with last week's £53 million robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent. John Fowler, a 57-year-old car dealer from Elderden Farm, Staplehurst, was charged with conspiracy to rob, handling stolen goods and kidnapping depot manager Colin Dixon, his wife Lynn and son Craig.
29 May 2015
23 Charged With Drug Offences Following Raids
More than 20 people have been charged with drug offences following a number of raids carried out in London, Gravesend, Dover and Deal. A total of 23 people were arrested during twenty raids carried out over three days. The suspects, ranging in age from 17 to 52, have all been charged in connection with the supply of class A drugs.
12 April 2006
Man in court over Securitas robbery
A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the £53 million Securitas robbery in Kent. Ermir Hysenaj, 27, from Crowborough, East Sussex appeared before Maidstone Magistrates Court charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. He was remanded in custody to reappear in court on April 24.