Five in court over £40m jewellery robbery

Five men appeared in court today accused of taking part in Britain's biggest jewellery robbery.

Three of the group were charged and appeared last month in connection with the £40 million raid on Graff jewellers in Mayfair, central London.

Today another two men - Courtney Lawrence, 30, of Ladbroke Grove, in central London, and Gregory Jones, 29, of Elgin Avenue, Harrow, north west London - appeared alongside them, charged over the robbery at the New Bond Street store.

The pair, with Jamal Mogg, 42, of Westby Road, Bournemouth, Solomun Beyene, 24, of Lilestone Street, in Westminster, central London, and Craig Calderwood, 26, of no fixed abode, stand accused of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Beyene and Calderwood also face one firearms charge each.

The five men appeared at Kingston Crown Court, in south west London, via video link.

The robbery happened on August 6 when a gang forced a female member of staff to fill a bag with 43 pieces of jewellery including earrings, necklaces and watches.

The gang used a series of getaway cars and a motorcycle to escape across the capital, firing two shots in the process.

The five men were remanded in custody and will next appear at the same court on October 23.