Hatton Garden jewellery raid suspects face trial

The trial of four men charged in connection with the Hatton Garden jewellery raid will begin today.

Valuables, including precious gems, worth up to £20 million were taken when thieves broke into Hatton Garden Safe Deposit over the Easter weekend.

Carl Wood, 58, of Elderbeck Close, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire; William Lincoln, 60, of Winkley Street, Bethnal Green, east London; and Jon Harbinson, 42, of Beresford Gardens, Benfleet, Essex, are charged with conspiracy to commit burglary between May 17 2014 and 7.30am on April 5 this year.

Hugh Doyle, 48, of Riverside Gardens, Enfield, north London, is jointly charged with them on one count of conspiracy to conceal, convert or transfer criminal property between January 1 and May 19 this year.

He also faces an alternative charge of concealing, converting or transferring criminal property between April 1 and May 19 this year.

They all deny the charges at Woolwich Crown Court in south east London.

A jury of six men and six women has been told the trial is expected to last four weeks, but that it could run into next year.

Before being sworn, jurors were asked if they had any connection with the jewellery trade or Hatton Garden, or if they knew anyone who suffered losses in the burglary.

Detectives believe the raid was carried out after thieves used a drill to bore a hole 20in deep, 10in high and 18in into the wall of a vault.

Once inside, the gang ransacked 73 safety deposit boxes, taking items worth between £15 million and £20 million.

John Collins, 75, of Bletsoe Walk, Islington; Daniel Jones, 58, of Park Avenue, Enfield; Terry Perkins, 67, of Heene Road, Enfield; and Brian Reader, 76, of Dartford Road, Dartford, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

They are due to be sentenced on a date to be confirmed.