Child hostage 'wriggled through the bars' of cage after depot heist

Helped by mother, Lynn Dixon - wife of Securitas cash depot manager Colin - the child managed to bend a gap big enough to escape, a jury was told.

The terrified family had been locked in the metal cages, normally used to hold money, along with 14 employees at the bunker-like site in Tonbridge, Kent.

As the thieves prepared to flee with £53 million stuffed into their 7.5-ton lorry they warned the captives "We know where you live", an Old Bailey jury heard.

"Inside the depot, for some time after the robbers left, no one moved," said Sir John Nutting QC, prosecuting. "Some could barely believe they were alive.

"Eventually, some made attempts to get out of the cages by trying to bend the metal. It was in fact (the child) who, with the help of (its) mother, managed to expand a gap in the cage sufficient to allow (its) small frame to gain liberty."

Once all had been released, some spoke of "how lucky they were to be alive", said Sir John.

But one employee, Alun Thomas, horrified to learn the robbers may know where he lived and fearing for the safety of his family, phoned his wife straight away and told her to leave home, the jury was told.

Mr Dixon, fearing the robbers might return, delayed setting off the alarm in his office until 3.14am, half an hour after they left. Police were at the depot within four minutes.

The jury has heard that the robbers left behind £153 million, unable to stuff any more cash into the back of their lorry.

Seven men and one woman deny charges relating to the robbery in February last year. Police have recovered £21 million of the £53 million haul.

Among the accused is hairdresser Michelle Hogg, 32, who admitted applying prosthetic masks to four men but denied knowing how they would be used.

Today jurors heard how the fashion graduate was arrested at her home in Plumstead, south London, just one day after the hold-up.

Police discovered latex, sponges, make-up, false hair, brushes, cotton wool pads and grease paint in a wheelie bin outside her home.

They also found hair dye, powder, modelling wax, dental plaster and "general paraphernalia necessary to create prosthetic disguises", in total worth around £400, the trial was told.

Another defendant, Emir Hysenaj, 27, of Crowborough, East Sussex, was said to have been the gang's "inside man", making a covert video inside the depot, and linked to them through fellow Albanian Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Tonbridge.

Car salesman Stuart Royle, 48, of Maidstone, Kent, and former business partner John Fowler, 58, of Staplehurst, Kent are also charged as part of the alleged conspiracy.

The accused also include roofer Lea Rusha, 35, of Southborough, Kent, and garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, of Welling, Kent.

Signwriter Keith Borer, 53, Maidstone, denies a charge of handling stolen money.

All except Borer are charged with conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap Mr Dixon and his family and conspiracy to possess firearms. They deny the charges.