ELEVEN people have denied being involved in the £53million robbery of the Securitas cash management depot in Kent more than a year ago.

The 11 appeared before a judge in Court 1 of the Old Bailey in London last Thursday to enter pleas in connection with the robbery in Vale Road, Tonbridge, in February 2006.

The heist involved the gunpoint abduction of depot manager Colin Dixon on the A249, and his wife and young son Craig from their home in Herne Bay.

Nine of the 11 pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to possess a firearm.

They were: John Fowler, 61, a car dealer of Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst; Stuart Royal, 48, also a car salesman, from Allen Street, Maidstone; Lea Rusha, 34, a roofer from Lambersart Close, Southborough; Jetmir Bucpapa, 25, unemployed, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge; Ermir Hysenaj, 27, a Post Office worker of Prospect Villas, New Road, Crowborough, East Sussex; Raluca Millen 26, of Dudley Road, Tunbridge Wells; Michelle Hogg, 32, a hairdresser of Brinklow Crescent, Woolwich; sales assistant Katie Philp, 23, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge; and Roger Lloyd Coutts, 29, a garage owner of The Green, Welling.

It was said they conspired together with others including cage fighter Lee Murray, 29, of Onslow Drive, Sidcup, who remains in custody in Morocco awaiting the outcome of extradition proceedings.

Royle’s girlfriend Kim Shackleton, 39, a hairdresser of Allen Street, Maidstone, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender on February 22, 2006, namely that she assisted in the disposal of metal cages belonging to Securitas.

Sign writer Keith Borer, 53, from Hampsted Lane, Yalding, denied dishonestly receiving stolen goods on February 22, namely £6,100 in money belonging to Securitas.

Seven of the defendants, including Fowler, will be tried on June 11. A second trial involving Hysenaj, Shakleton, Millen and Philp will take place at a date to be fixed.

The 11 will next appear on April 20.

Two other men are due to stand trial separately in September on money laundering charges.