Two cagefighters, including one from Medway, planned Britain’s biggest ever cash robbery and then fled to Morocco together to live off the proceeds, a court heard.

Martial arts enthusiasts Lee Murray, 29, and Paul Allen, 30, plotted the armed heist at the Securitas cash depository in Tonbridge, Kent, which netted the robbers £53m.

Depot manager Colin Dixon and his family were kidnapped and taken hostage while 14 staff were held at gunpoint during the terrifying raid.

And within days of the robbery the fighters had fled to Africa via Amsterdam to begin a new life, the Old Bailey heard.

Murray, originally from Sidcup, had been the gang’s ‘leading light’, while his friend Allen had ‘played an important part throughout’, jurors were told on Tuesday.

Sir John Nutting, QC, prosecuting, told how seven robbers raided the cash bunker on the night of February 21 and 22, 2006.

The QC told the jury Allen had to be extradited back to the UK to face trial, but Murray remains in a Moroccan jail.

"The Crown allege he played an important part throughout and assisted Lee Murray who was arguably the leading light.

"They both worked part-time as cagefighters, a martial arts activity,’ he told the court.

"On Sunday February 26, four days after the robbery he fled with Lee Murray to Morocco where he and Lee Murray hoped to remain living on the shares of the proceeds."

Allen and co-defendant Michael Demetris, 32, deny conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess firearms.

-----------

Five other men Stuart Royle, 48, Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, Lea Rusha, 35, Emir Hysenaj, 28, Roger Coutts, 30, were convicted for their parts in the robbery after a trial earlier this year.

Allen was extradited from Morocco earlier this year.

Demetris was charged because of the evidence in the first trial of make-up artist Michelle Hogg, 33, who admitted applying prosthetic masks and theatrical make-up to disguise the robbers.

In the months leading up to the raid Allen worked closely with Murray, buying mobile phones and SIM cards, covert surveillance cameras and equipment used for reconnaissance on the depot and the Dixons’ family home and allowing his home in Chatham, Kent, to be used by Demetris to put the finishing touches to the gang’s disguises.

"In a telephone conversation between Lee Muuray and Rush accidentally recorded on Lee Murray’s mobile, the reconnaissance at the depot depot and the robbery were discussed.

"A reference was made to Paul who, it is suggested by Rusha might be the conspirator who will accompany Colin Dixon to the gate and gain access to the depot.

"The Crown suggest the Paul referred to is the defendant Paul Allen,’ said the prosecutor.

"He may well have actually participated in the robbery and after it he assisted the other conspirators to unwrap a large number of holdalls which were used to take the proceeds of the robbery away from Elderden Farm and in which much of the cash was later recovered."

------------

The court was told some £20m has been recovered by police since the robbery, but millions more remains unaccounted for.

Allen, of Huntersfield Close, Chatham, Kent, and Demetris, of Bromley Common, Bromley, deny conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess firearms.

The trial continues.