A book by a former Liverpool criminal outlining a heist “exactly like Hatton Garden” was found at the home of a man accused of taking part in the multimillion-pound jewellery raid, a court heard.
A copy of Killer by former armed robber and safe-blower Charlie Seiga – now a successful author – was found at the Essex home of taxi driver Jon Harbinson, 42, when it was searched by police following the April raid in the heart of London, jurors were told.
Prosecutors alleged that a page in the memoir detailing a theft using high-powered drills and other equipment was marked with a grey piece of card.
Similar methods and equipment were used at Hatton Garden, they claim.
Harbinson, a father of three, is accused of transporting away some of the proceeds of the Hatton Garden raid.
He denies the allegation.
He told Woolwich Crown Court that when “I was told about the book I had no knowledge of it”.
A copy of Killer by Charlie Seiga
Prosecutor Philip Stott asked him: “He (Seiga) is talking about his criminal life and heists he had been involved in. Is that something you had an interest in?”
Harbinson replied: “Many years ago, possibly.”
Mr Stott went on: “There was a bookmark in this page.”
Harbinson replied: “That’s what you say but I don’t know, I wasn’t there.”
Mr Stott: “Were you interested in the plan (Hatton Garden) you were engaged in?”
Harbinson: “I wasn’t engaged in it. If this book is so prevalent in evidence against me why wasn’t it forensically examined?”
Mr Stott: “It was bookmarked on a page that is exactly what took place in Hatton Garden.”
Harbinson: “I had no knowledge of what happened in Hatton Garden.”
Mr Stott showed him the grey card which Harbinson agreed was probably the back of a book of taxi receipts.
Mr Stott said: “This was your book and you were reading it, weren’t you?”
Harbinson replied: “No sir.”
Harbinson, of Beresford Gardens, Benfleet, Essex, is accused of conspiracy to commit burglary at Hatton Garden Safe Deposit between May 17 2014 and 7.30am on April 5 this year.
William Lincoln, 60, of Winkley Street, Bethnal Green, is accused of the same offence.
Carl Wood, of Elderbek Close, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, is charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, and one count of conspiracy to convert, conceal or transfer criminal property.
Hugh Doyle, 48, of Riverside Gardens, Enfield, north London, is jointly charged with them on one count of conspiracy to conceal, convert or transfer criminal property between January 1 and May 19 this year. He also faces an alternative charge of concealing, converting or transferring criminal property between April 1 and May 19 this year.
Ringleaders Brian Reader, John “Kenny” Collins, 75, Daniel Jones, 60, and Terry Perkins, 67, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary at Hatton Garden Safe Deposit between May 17 2014 and 7.30am on April 5 this year.
Collins, of Bletsoe Walk, Islington; Jones, of Park Avenue, Enfield; Perkins, of Heene Road, Enfield, and Reader, of Dartford Road, Dartford, are due to be sentenced at a later date.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/