Hoxton pensioner charged with Hatton Garden jewellery heist

Inside the vault at Hatton Garden. Photograph: Metropolitan Police

A Hoxton pensioner is one of eight men to be charged over the Hatton Garden jewellery heist last month.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad have charged the eight, including 74 year-old John Collins of Blestoe Walk, with conspiracy to burgle.

It is thought that around £200m worth of jewellery was stolen in the raid in London’s jewellery district over the Easter weekend.

A ninth man who was also arrested has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

The Flying Squad has apologised following criticism of the way the investigation was handled after an alarm call about an intruder on the premises shortly after midnight on Good Friday was not followed up.

In a statement delivered outside New Scotland Yard in relation to the Hatton Garden burglary, Commander Peter Spindle rejected claims that the police had acted like the “Keystone Cops”.

Commander Spindle said: “The Metropolitan Police takes these types of crimes very seriously. At times we have been portrayed as if we’ve acted like ‘Keystone Cops’.

“But I want to reassure you that in the finest traditions of Scotland Yard these detectives have done their utmost to bring justice for the victims of this callous crime.”

The men appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday.