A man accused of taking part in a Stg £1.75 million armed hold-up at a Heathrow warehouse is being hunted by police after he escaped custody in central London.
Scotland Yard warned the public to beware of “dangerous” Peter Blake, 57, after he disappeared from the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London.
He was one of four alleged armed robbers put on trial without a jury accused of the February 2004 robbery.
Blake, of Notting Hill, west London, went on trial alongside John Twomey, Barry Hibberd and Glen Cameron at the Royal Courts of Justice in January.
The four were being tried by Mr Justice Treacy after being accused of taking part in a “professionally executed” robbery. The court heard an armed gang of six wearing high-visibility jackets escaped with £1.75 million in various currencies.
Guns were used to threaten 16 members of staff, who were then tied up. One of them was shot at as he tried to escape. The Court of Appeal ruled last year that the case should be heard by a judge alone because of the danger of jury tampering.
It is the first major criminal trial in England and Wales to be held without a jury. All four men on trial deny a series of charges including robbery and firearm possession.
PA