A CAGE fighter has been sentenced to 10 years in a Moroccan jail for his part in Britain's biggest cash robbery.

In June 2009, 30-year-old Lee Murray, previously from Sidcup, was deemed to be Moroccan and therefore could not be extradited to this country.

Since then Kent police have worked with the Moroccan authorities to ensure Murray was held to account for his part in the £53m robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge and he was finally sentenced yesterday (June 1).

Murray has been described as the heist’s “ringleader”.

The robbers kidnapped depot manager Colin Dixon and his family in order to gain access to the site on the night of February 21, 2006.

Held at gunpoint, the Dixons and 14 other Securitas employees were forced to co-operate with the robbers while they loaded £53m in old and new notes from the depot into a 7.5 tonne lorry.

The men locked the Dixons and the employees into money cages before escaping.

A team of 100 police officers and support staff were assigned to the inquiry and within two weeks vehicles and equipment used in the robbery had been recovered, along with over £21m in cash.

A number of people were then charged and remanded in custody.

Speaking after Murray was sentenced, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Mick Judge, from Kent police, said: 'I'm pleased Murray will now begin serving a significant prison sentence for his part in the robbery.

"Officers investigating the £53m robbery have put six men before the courts in the UK and they have been sentenced to a total of 156 years' imprisonment.

"We must not forget the traumatic experience the Dixons and the Securitas employees went through that night in 2006, held at gunpoint and fearing for their lives.

"I'm pleased that Murray, who played a key role in the conspiracy to kidnap the Dixons and rob the depot, has now been held accountable."