Hatton Garden Heist: Final Gang Member Caged for 10 Years
The last member of the notorious Hatton Garden gang has finally been locked up. Michael Seed, 58, from Islington, was sentenced to ten years at Woolwich Crown Court today, Friday 15 March, for his role in the infamous 2015 vault raid.
Seed Found Guilty After Six-Week Trial
After a lengthy six-week trial, Seed was convicted of conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to conceal criminal property. The court handed him concurrent sentences of ten years for the burglary plot and eight years for hiding stolen goods. He was also slapped with a £170 victim surcharge.
Mastermind Behind the Vault Break-In
Known as Basil, Seed was the key man who broke into the Hatton Garden premises and disabled the security system, making the daring Easter weekend raid possible. He was the last suspect to be caught, joining his criminal pals already convicted for the huge £14 million heist.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bedford from the Met’s Flying Squad said, “These were career criminals who pulled off one of Britain’s biggest safety deposit box heists without a second thought for their victims. They broke into 73 boxes filled with gold, silver, diamonds, and jewellery.”
Justice Served After Years of Tireless Police Work
Victims lost life savings locked away for years, stolen without mercy. The Flying Squad pieced together the gang’s every move by sifting through CCTV, witness statements, and forensic clues. Four gang members pleaded guilty early, while three others were convicted unanimously in January 2016.
DCI Bedford praised the team’s dedication: “After three years of relentless investigation, we finally brought the last man to justice. Over a third of the stolen loot has been recovered and returned.”
Now, the Met’s Criminal Finance team will launch a fresh probe to make sure Seed doesn’t profit financially from his crimes.
