A CAR dealer from Kent has been cleared of involvement in Britain's biggest cash robbery.

A packed court room at the Old Bailey heard 62-year-old John Fowler, from Staplehurst, near Maidstone, found not guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to possess firearms in connection with the £53million Securitas robbery.

Five other men facing the same charges were found guilty. They are: Lea Rusha, 35, of Lambersart Close, Southborough; Stuart Royle, 49, of Allen Street, Maidstone; Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge; Roger Coutts, 30, of The Green, Welling; and Emir Hysenaj, 28, of New Road, Crowborough.

Keith Borer, 54, of Hampstead Lane, Yalding, near Maidstone, was found not guilty of handling stolen cash. He had been accused of receiving £6,100 of stolen Securitas money, which he denied.

Mr Fowler, of Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst, did not react when the verdict was read out but mouthed "thank you" to his defence team as the court cleared.

The trial at the Old Bailey has been running since June last year. The verdict comes just under a month short of the two-year anniversary of the crime which happened on Febuary 21, 2006.

Depot manager Colin Dixon was kidnapped by two men disguised as policemen as he made his way home from work. His wife and young child were also later kidnapped and all were held at gunpoint.

The crown alleged during the trial that the Dixons were held at Mr Fowler's Elderden Farm in Staplehurst but he has always denied this claim.

The gang took the Dixons to the depot, in Tonbridge, where 14 Securitas employees were also held hostage before the masked men escaped with £53million.

Just under £21million has been recovered.

Stuart Royle, who sacked his defence team earlier in the trial, has been absent for much of the court proceedings. He did not attend for Monday's verdict.

Rusha, Coutts, Bucpapa and Hysenaj did not react to the verdict although all had kept a calm exterior throughout the trial.

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