The Brink's-MAT robbery occurred on 26 November 1983 when six robbers[1] broke into the Brink's-MAT warehouse at Heathrow Airport, London. The robbers thought they were going to steal £3 million in cash;[2] however, when they arrived, they found three tonnes of gold bullion (worth £26 million).[3] The gang gained entry to the warehouse from security guard Anthony Black, the brother-in-law of Brian Robinson who conceived the raid. Scotland Yard quickly discovered the family connection and Black confessed to aiding and abetting the raiders, providing them with a key to the main door, and giving them details of security measures. Tried at the Old Bailey, Robinson and gang leader Michael McAvoy were each sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for armed robbery, along with Peter Mitchell a notorious armed robber[3] Black received six years.[4]
Prior to his conviction, McAvoy had entrusted part of his share to an associate Brian Perry. Perry recruited Kenneth Noye, who was an expert in his field,[1] to dispose of the gold. Noye melted down the bullion and recast it for sale. However, the sudden movements of large amounts of money through a Bristol bank came to the notice of the Treasury who informed the police. Noye was placed under police surveillance and in January 1985 killed a police officer he discovered in his garden. At the resulting trial, the jury found him not guilty on the grounds of self defence. In 1986 Noye was found guilty of conspiracy to handle the Brink's-MAT gold, fined £700,000 and sentenced to 14 years in prison, although he only served seven years before being released in 1994.[5]
However, in 1996 Noye murdered motorist Stephen Cameron during what was reported by the media at the time as a road rage incident, but which may have been a dispute over drugs (Cameron allegedly being a small-time dealer who owed money to Noye[6] [7]). Noye fled the country, but was tracked down by police and arrested in Spain in 1998, and deported back to Britain, tried and convicted in 2000. He received a life sentence.[8]
Most of the three tonnes of stolen gold has never been recovered and the other four robbers were never convicted. According to the BBC, some have claimed that anyone wearing gold jewellery bought in the UK after 1983 is probably wearing Brink's-MAT.[1]
In 1992 a movie called Fool's Gold based on the robbery was released with McAvoy portrayed by Sean Bean.[9] A documentary was broadcast on Channel 4 in November 2003 on the events of the raid.[10] A subsequent documentary has also been aired in 2010 on the Crime networks.[11]