A BRAVE Securitas employee attempted to thwart the efforts of the robbers at the company's depot at Tonbridge by wedging a forklift truck onto their lorry.

Tony Mason was ordered by the armed gang to load two cages full of money onto a Renault lorry.

Recognising an opportunity to cause problems for the £53 million robbers, Mr Mason drove the truck onto the tail lift of the lorry knowing it would be almost impossible to take it off again.

This succeeded in blocking the entrance to the lorry causing the frustrated robbers to push the forklift over the side and onto the depot floor.

On the third day of the Securitas trial, the Old Bailey in London heard how police traced a mobile phone in the vicinity of Elderdown Farm, Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst.

The court also heard how Royle’s mobile had called John Fowler’s land line at 6.13am on the morning of the robbery, February 22.

The Crown alleged that this was when the spoils of the robbery were being divided up in the workshop at Elderdown Farm.

Sir John Nutting QC told the court of the defendant Keith Borer’s alleged role in the robbery.

Sign writer Borer told police he had been requested by Royle to create a Parcelforce logo and apply it to a red LDV van.

The Crown says the signing work was carried out at Elderdown Farm and that Fowler admitted to police in an interview that he had seen the sign writer at his farm on Monday, February 20.

Sir John said this van was purchased for use in the kidnap of Mrs Dixon and her child who were transferred into this van and held there in freezing winter conditions at Elderdown Farm.

Sir John also focused on Fowler’s alleged role in the conspiracy. The court heard how Fowler hired a white 7.5 ton Renault lorry from KTS Trucks at 12.30pm on February 20.

This lorry was spotted at Elderdown Farm on February 20 between 9pm and 9.30pm and again the following morning. This is after, the Crown say, the number plates had been replaced by false ones.

The Crown alleges that Fowler hired the lorry for use in the robbery and it was used to carry Mrs Dixon and her child to the depot.

They say it was also used to remove money from the depot and a few hours later by Fowler to remove “tell tale” cages from his farm to another location.

A lorry used in the robbery had been damaged as it made its escape from the depot. A document recording the purchase of a guard rail like the one damaged was found shredded in a cupboard at Elderdown Farm.

The trial continues.