NEARLY £53 million was snatched in Kent by balaclava-wearing robbers who threatened to maim or kill their hostages, a court was told.

The Old Bailey also heard how an "insider" and theatrical make-up were central to the plot to snatch possibly the largest amount ever stolen in the UK during the 2006 cash heist in Tonbridge.

At the start of one of the most high profile robbery trials in British history, seven men and one woman are accused of being part of the gang which masterminded and carried out the Securitas robbery in February 2006.

Lea Rusha, of Lambersart Close, Southborough, Stuart Royle, from Allen Street, Maidstone, Jetmir Bucpapa, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, Roger Coutts, of The Green, Welling, John Fowler, of Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst, Ermir Hysenaj, of New Road, Crowborough, and Michelle Hogg, of Brinklow Crescent, Woolwich, have all pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to have in their possession a firearm.

A seventh man, Keith Borer, from Hampsted Lane, Yalding, stands accused of dishonestly receiving £6,100 of stolen Securitas money, which he denies.

In his opening statement, Sir John Nutting QC, told the packed courtroom that on the night of February 21, 2006, Securitas manager Colin Dixon was waylaid on his car journey home to Herne Bay and forced to stop by two men, dressed as policemen.

From here he was taken at gunpoint to an isolated farm alleged to belong to John Fowler where he was interrogated at gunpoint about the depot and its security arrangements.

Sir John continued that while that was happening two men, also dressed as policemen, called at Mrs Dixon’s address in Herne Bay using the ruse that Mr Dixon was in hospital and had been injured in a car accident.

They lured Mrs Dixon and her young child away from the house and into a car where on the move, another gun was produced.

The prosecution case claims that an inside man, Hysenaj, was instrumental in the robbery as was the theatrical make-up applied to some of the gang by Hogg.

Hogg admits applying the make-up but denies knowing what it was for.

The Crown alleges the gang used the disguises to pose as policemen to snatch Mr Dixon and his family.

Sir John said the robbers used their hostages as a means to enter the Tonbridge depot to scare the 14 employees inside to comply with their demands.

The employees were held captive for more than an hour by the robbers who finally departed in a seven-and-a-half tonne Renault lorry full of cash.

“The motive for this crime,” said Sir John, “was greed, pure and simple.

“The lure of large sums of cash which were divided up among the perpetrators would have permitted them to enjoy for some time at least if not for life circumstances of luxury, ease and idleness.

“The Crown says all defendants were motivated by the prospect of dishonest gain almost beyond the dreams of avarice.”

Sir John said it was not a case of identifying which of the defendants actually participated in the kidnap or robbery but the job of the jury, comprising eight women and four men, was to determine if the defendants played a part in planning the kidnap and the depot robbery.

The case continues.