Islington man Michael Seed, the final suspect in the Hatton Garden heist, will stand trial in September.
Seed, 57, of Liverpool Road, is said to be “Basil”, the mystery member of the gang which ransacked £14million of gold, cash and gems at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit on the 2015 Easter weekend.
Seed, who was arrested in an early-morning raid on his flat last month, was meant to appear at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday. But he refused to leave Wandsworth Prison, where he is being held on remand. The court heard Seed fears for his safety if sent to Belmarsh, the high-security jail next to the Woolwich court.
He’s charged with conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to conceal or disguise criminal property. Seed hasn’t yet made a plea but his lawyer, James Reilly, said he will deny the charges. A trial, expected to last three weeks, has been set for September 24.
Six other men have already been jailed for their roles in the raid, which was planned in Pentonville Road’s Castle pub.
Additional reporting by Press Association
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here