Fifth man remanded over £53m raid

The fifth person charged over Britain's biggest cash raid has been remanded in custody after he appeared before magistrates.

The fifth person charged over Britain's biggest cash raid has been remanded in custody after he appeared before magistrates.

Lea Rusha is accused of conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with the £53 million Securitas depot raid in Tonbridge, Kent, last week.

The 33-year-old roofer, of Lambersart Close, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, was remanded by Maidstone magistrates to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on March 13.

Earlier today Jetmir Bucpapa, 24, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, was in the dock facing a similar charge. He too was remanded in custody to appear at the Crown Court on the same date.

READ MORE

Two men and a woman have also been charged in connection with the robbery. Car dealers John Fowler, 60, and Stuart Royle, 47, along with Royle's girlfriend, self-employed hairdresser Kim Shackleton, 38, appeared at the same court on Thursday.

Father of three Fowler, of Elderden Farm, Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst, Kent, is charged with conspiracy to rob and three counts of kidnapping depot manager Colin Dixon, his wife Lynn and their son Craig "unlawfully by force or fraud". Craig was eight at the time and has since turned nine.

A new, fifth charge was put to Fowler in court that, jointly with Shackleton, he handled stolen goods. That charge relates to wire cages that held the money which were later found dumped. Fowler's business associate and friend Royle, of Allen Street, Maidstone, is charged with conspiracy to rob.

Mother of three Shackleton, who gave the same address as Royle, is jointly charged with Fowler with handling stolen goods. The three were remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court also on March 13.