The suspected missing member of the £14 million Hatton Garden jewellery heist known as “Basil” appeared in court for the first time today.
Michael Seed, 57, is accused of being part of the team that carried out the raid, believed to be the biggest break-in in British criminal history, on the safe deposit store in London’s jewellery district over the 2015 Easter holiday.
It is said he was the man, referred to by other members of the gang simply as Basil, who was seen on CCTV with a ginger wig and mask over his face.
Seed, from Islington, was arrested on Tuesday morning and charged last night with conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to conceal or disguise criminal property.
As he appeared in the dock at Westminster magistrates’ court this morning, prosecutor Philip Stott said: “They are serious charges and the amount stolen was recently estimated to be in the order of £13.7 million.”
Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot remanded Seed in custody until a plea hearing at Woolwich crown court on April 26. He was not asked to enter a plea today.
Members of the Hatton Garden gang, known as the Diamond Wheezers, are serving lengthy prison sentences.
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