The Brink’s-Mat Gold Heist | With Special Guest Former Flying Squad Commander Roy Ramm | PART 1
True CriminalsShow Notes
When six masked men burst into the Brinks Mat warehouse near Heathrow in the early hours of 26 November 1983, they expected cash. Instead, they stumbled upon nearly 6,800 gold bars worth £26 million, the biggest bullion robbery in British history. What followed would become one of the most notorious and far reaching criminal investigations the UK has ever seen.
In Part One of this special three part series from True Criminals, hosts Martin and Helen unravel the violent raid that shocked Britain and changed organised crime forever. From terrified security guards and an inside man who opened the vault doors, to career criminals Kenneth Noye, Brian Reader and “Mad” Mickey McAvoy, we trace the chaotic first days after the robbery and the desperate race to turn stolen gold into cash.
Joining us in the studio is former Metropolitan Police Commander and former head of the Flying Squad, Roy Ramm, who brings extraordinary insight into the investigation from the perspective of Scotland Yard. Roy explains how Brinks Mat marked the beginning of a colder, more sophisticated era of British organised crime, and why the murder of Detective Constable John Fordham changed the case forever.
This is the story of greed, violence, corruption and the “Curse of Brinks Mat”, a case whose fallout still echoes decades later.
Support the Show
Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at www.patreon.com/truecriminals.
As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE
Follow True Criminals
Follow us on Instagram at @true.criminals and subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals.
Connect with Martin Brunt
Follow Martin on Twitter at @skymartinbrunt. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY.
Connect with Helen Fospero
Follow Helen on Instagram at @helenfospero and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575.
Credits
True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.
Visit www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals for more information.
Executive Producer: Lee Mann.
Producer: Russell Barnes.
Audio Production: BLEACHED
Music Composition:BLEACHED
Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from True Criminals
After more than five decades behind bars, Charles Bronson is once again fighting for his freedom. With another crucial parole hearing approaching, True Criminals hosts Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero discuss the latest developments in the extraordinary case of one of Britain's most notorious prisoners.
In February 1990, seven-year-old Rachel Watts went out on her roller skates to buy sweets near her home in Brighton. On her way back, she encountered Russell Bishop — the man acquitted three years earlier of murdering Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows. Bishop abducted Rachel, drove her to Devil's Dyke, sexually assaulted and strangled her, and left her for dead.
Did you know True Criminals is on Patreon?
In October 1986, nine-year-old best friends Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows disappeared after going out to play near their homes on the Moulsecoomb estate in Brighton. The following afternoon, their bodies were discovered in Wild Park.
Did you know True Criminals is on Patreon? You can listen ad free and enjoy exclusive bonus content, just like the episode you’re listening to right now.