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'Gunpoint ordeal' in £53m robbery 'Gunpoint ordeal' in £53m robbery
(about 1 hour later)
A cash depot manager thought he would be shot by armed raiders carrying out Britain's biggest cash robbery, Old Bailey jurors have heard.A cash depot manager thought he would be shot by armed raiders carrying out Britain's biggest cash robbery, Old Bailey jurors have heard.
Colin Dixon, 52, of Herne Bay, Kent, said he did not know if the gang would use the gun they had. "I was the most scared I'd ever been," he said.Colin Dixon, 52, of Herne Bay, Kent, said he did not know if the gang would use the gun they had. "I was the most scared I'd ever been," he said.
He was giving evidence at the trial of eight people accused of involvement in the £53m Securitas raid in Tonbridge.He was giving evidence at the trial of eight people accused of involvement in the £53m Securitas raid in Tonbridge.
Seven men and one woman deny charges in relation to the raid in February 2006.Seven men and one woman deny charges in relation to the raid in February 2006.
Mr Dixon told the court how he was kidnapped at gunpoint on his way home from work, by men posing as policemen, and said: "Threats had been made. Mr Dixon told the court how he was kidnapped at gunpoint on his way home from work, by men posing as policemen, and said: "I didn't know what was going on. It was dark. I didn't know whether the gun that I'd seen was going to be used."
"I didn't know what was going on. It was dark. I didn't know whether the gun that I'd seen was going to be used."
I was very scared - very scared... I also felt guilty Colin DixonI was very scared - very scared... I also felt guilty Colin Dixon
He said one captor who brandished a gun when he tried to adjust his handcuffs was "agitated".He said one captor who brandished a gun when he tried to adjust his handcuffs was "agitated".
And he added: "I didn't know how calm and in control he was - and if I'd have moved to make my hands comfortable and there was an accident I could have been shot." And he added: "I didn't know how calm and in control he was."
He said he was put in a Volvo, then bundled into a van, alongside a man who was always "coughing, sniffing and clearing his throat".He said he was put in a Volvo, then bundled into a van, alongside a man who was always "coughing, sniffing and clearing his throat".
Handcuffed and blindfolded, with his feet tied, he was driven for about half an hour through country lanes before he heard the "clank" of a metal gate, after which the vehicle stopped, he said.Handcuffed and blindfolded, with his feet tied, he was driven for about half an hour through country lanes before he heard the "clank" of a metal gate, after which the vehicle stopped, he said.
Mr Dixon said he was kept in the back of the van and his steel-capped shoes were taken off him.
21 Feb, 1828 GMT: Colin Dixon is stopped by bogus police officers at Detling1945 GMT: Mr Dixon arrives at Elderden Farm, near Staplehurst2020 GMT: Two other men arrive at Mr Dixon's Herne Bay home and take his wife and their child2145 GMT: Mrs Dixon and the child arrive at Elderden Farm22 Feb, 0128 GMT: Mr Dixon is taken to the depot and forced to gain entry for the robbers0234 GMT: After tying up 14 workers in a cage and stealing £53m, the gang escape0315 GMT: The employees escape and raise the alarm21 Feb, 1828 GMT: Colin Dixon is stopped by bogus police officers at Detling1945 GMT: Mr Dixon arrives at Elderden Farm, near Staplehurst2020 GMT: Two other men arrive at Mr Dixon's Herne Bay home and take his wife and their child2145 GMT: Mrs Dixon and the child arrive at Elderden Farm22 Feb, 0128 GMT: Mr Dixon is taken to the depot and forced to gain entry for the robbers0234 GMT: After tying up 14 workers in a cage and stealing £53m, the gang escape0315 GMT: The employees escape and raise the alarm
His captors quizzed him about a number on his mobile phone, which he assumed was a missed call and said belonged to his wife, jurors heard.
"Later on I was told that 'we have got your wife and kid'," he said.
The gang questioned him about the depot, how many people were there, and about alarms and CCTV, he added.The gang questioned him about the depot, how many people were there, and about alarms and CCTV, he added.
He said: "I was very scared - very scared. I also felt guilty at having to answer these questions."He said: "I was very scared - very scared. I also felt guilty at having to answer these questions."
Jurors heard how Mr Dixon's captors said to him: "If you do as you are told nobody will be hurt."
His wife was brought to him while he was blindfolded, the court was told.
Mr Dixon added: "I now knew that they had got my wife and my child and I was fearing for the safety of all three of us."
He said that when all three were together: "Lynn reached across, she touched my right hand."
At one stage, Mrs Dixon asked for a blanket and for her and the child to go to the toilet, but the child was taken to the toilet without her, the court heard.
Later, when the tape was removed from Mr Dixon's eyes, and the ties from his legs, he was told to look down.
He said he saw a machine gun, a shotgun, and a handgun laid out on a tarpaulin.
"My legs were shaking," he said.
"I don't know if it was the cold, if it was my legs having been tied up for so long, but they were shaking, trembling."
Conspiracy charges
The defendants on trial include car salesman Stuart Royle, 48, of Maidstone, Kent, and his former business partner, John Fowler, 58, of Staplehurst, Kent.The defendants on trial include car salesman Stuart Royle, 48, of Maidstone, Kent, and his former business partner, John Fowler, 58, of Staplehurst, Kent.
Also charged are former depot worker Ermir Hysenaj, 27, of Crowborough, East Sussex; Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Tonbridge, Kent; roofer Lea Rusha, 35, of Southborough, Kent; garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, of Welling, south-east London; and hairdresser Michelle Hogg, 32, of Woolwich, south-east London.Also charged are former depot worker Ermir Hysenaj, 27, of Crowborough, East Sussex; Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Tonbridge, Kent; roofer Lea Rusha, 35, of Southborough, Kent; garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, of Welling, south-east London; and hairdresser Michelle Hogg, 32, of Woolwich, south-east London.
They all deny conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess firearms.They all deny conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess firearms.
Signwriter Keith Borer, 53, of Maidstone, Kent, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of handling stolen money.Signwriter Keith Borer, 53, of Maidstone, Kent, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of handling stolen money.