Hatton heist’s Basil ‘should pay back £6m’
THE Hatton Garden raider known as “Basil” is facing a court order to pay back nearly £6million.
Electronics expert Michael Seed, whose nickname comes from the first letters of the Best Alarm Specialist in London, played a central role in the £14million heist.
So far, less than £5million has been recovered. The 59-year-old loner let himself into the safe deposit centre in the capital’s jewellery quarter at Easter in 2015 with a set of keys.
Inside, he defeated the security system before the mostly elderly raiders – dubbed the Diamond Wheezers – drilled their way into the vault.
Seed was one of two men who climbed into the vault to loot 73 safe deposit boxes of gold, diamonds, jewellery and other valuables.
Most of the gang were rounded up weeks later but Seed, who claimed no benefits and rarely used a bank account, evaded capture for three years. During his trial, Woolwich Crown Court heard £143,000 worth of gold ingots, gems and jewellery was found in the bedroom of his modest flat in Islington, north London. Philip Evans, QC, prosecuting, told the jury there was no “supporting evidence” for Seed’s claim he ran a jewellery business. He said Seed had not declared tax on any earnings nor produced any documents to support the business claim.
Seed was found guilty of conspiracy to burgle in March last year. Yesterday, Mr Evans told Woolwich Crown Court that Seed should pay back £5.9million. Judgment at the confiscation hearing was reserved. His fellow raiders Brian Reader, 80, John “Kenny” Collins, 78, Daniel Jones, 64, and Terry Perkins, who died in prison last year aged 69, were all jailed in 2016.
Collins and Reader are out of jail but face going back if they fail to pay back more than £6.5million police believe could still be under their control.