Five men jailed over £53m cash raid

Trial judge Mr Justice Penry-Davey told the gang they had taken part in "organised banditry" during the early morning raid at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent, in February 2006.

They kidnapped depot manager Colin Dixon, his wife Lynn and their young child and used them to gain entry to the building.

Lea Rusha, 35, a kick boxer and former roofer who took part in both the robbery itself and the kidnap of the Dixons, was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and told he would serve at least 15 years.

Car salesman Stuart Royle, 49, unemployed Albanian Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, and garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, were given the same sentence.

Inside man, Albanian Emir Hysenaj, 28, a Securitas employee who filmed inside the depot for the gang using a miniature video camera, was given a 'determinate' 20 year sentence, which means he could be eligible for parole after serving half that term.

The judge said: "This was organised banditry for uniquely high stakes."

He said the raid was "meticulously prepared" and "ruthlessly executed".

The judge added: "From an early stage the plot included the kidnapping and holding hostage of Colin Dixon, his wife and young child. You required somebody who was able, under threat of lethal violence to himself, his wife and young child, to get access to that depot and unimaginable quantities of cash.

"Once you were inside, heavily disguised and heavily armed, all those inside, going about their lawful business, were violently threatened and trussed up before being locked into cages and abandoned."