Hatton Garden burglar John Collins jailed for further seven years over unpaid funds
The group raided the safety deposit vaults in 2015 and walked away with almost 拢14m of gold, jewellery and precious stones.
Thursday 1 August 2019 23:38, UK
A burglar who was part of the Hatton Garden heist has been given a further seven years in prison after he failed to pay back millions stolen in the raid.
John Collins, 78, was one of six men who robbed the safety deposit company in April 2015, in one of the biggest heists in British history.
They entered the premises in high-visibility jackets, overcame the alarm, and drilled in to the vault in the basement.
The group left with around £13.69m of gold, jewellery and precious stones.
The gang were brought justice in March 2016, and the Crown Prosecution Service then took steps to try and recover the stolen funds.
Collins was ordered to pay £7.6m for his role in the robbery, and was told that non-payment would lead to more jail time.
The order was made up of a combined £6.4m with some of the other gang members, as well as the rest of his personal property - including his house in Islington and a property in Spain.
An earlier hearing was told that he had only handed over £732,000 so far.
His failure to pay has meant the court has followed through on its threat, and sentenced Collins, who is nicknamed "Kenny", to a further seven years behind bars.
:: Listen to the story of the Hunt for the Brink's-Mat gold, Britain's biggest armed robbery, now on , , ,
The sentence was handed down at Westminster Magistrates Court.
District Judge Richard Blake said: "I recognise that Mr Collins is in his 70s. It was entirely his decision to commit that crime at a time in his life when most people hope to enjoy a quiet retirement.
"He chose not to have a quiet retirement but participated with others in a serious criminal enterprise to make substantial gain.
"The consequences of his crime were to cause very significant loss, amounting to many millions of pounds worth of property to the victims."
As he was taken down to the cells, Collins's friends and family said "we love you Kenny" and "stay strong, you'll get through this."
The judge said that his decision to send Collins back to prison was not to pass another sentence, but instead to enforce the order.
Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Proceeds of Crime, said: "John Collins was a key player in the Hatton Garden burglary and benefited from millions of pounds from his crimes.
"The CPS showed the court that Collins still had assets and funds to pay the order but had chosen not to do so and it followed that his default sentence should be activated.
"Collins will now face this extra time in prison while his confiscation order still stands to be paid."