A DEPOT manager allegedly kidnapped in "the biggest robbery in history" was not the inside man, the Old Bailey heard.

Colin Dixon, 52, from Herne Bay, claims he was abducted by armed raiders and forced to help the gang grab £53 million from a Securitas depository in Tonbridge in February, 2006.

The court heard that his wife Lynn, 47, and child were also taken hostage before the robbery.

Defence barrister Graeme Wilson, for suspect Lea Rusha, has suggested Mr Dixon faked his own abduction and had helped the gang plan the raid.

The charge of kidnapping Mr Dixon has been split from a charge of kidnapping his wife and child so a jury could still convict even if they thought the manager was in on the plot.

But in closing the case for the prosecution, Sir John Nutting, QC, said it was impossible to believe the Mr Dixon was the inside man instead of suspect Emir Hysenaj.

"The suggestion is that the inside man was not Mr Hysenaj but rather the manager Colin Dixon," said Sir John.

"If you seduce Colin Dixon to help you rob the depot you will necessarily receive not only the best information available but all the information you need.

"And if of course you recruit Mr Dixon you avoid the necessity of taking hostage Mrs Dixon and their child in order to put pressure on Mr Dixon."

Sir John said the evidence showed the conspirators had gone out of their way to glean information about the Dixon family in the weeks leading up to the robbery.

Video footage recovered at the home of Lea Rusha showed a secret reconnaissance trip to the home of Mr Dixon on January 31, 2006.

"It's plain that the conspirators went to a great deal of trouble to prepare for the kidnapping of Mrs Dixon and that's not consistent with Mr Dixon being the inside man," said Sir John.

The court heard that the gang locked depot staff members in the cages before making off with nearly £53 million, only half of which has been recovered.

Stuart Royle, of Allen Street, Maidstone, John Fowler, of Elderden Farm, Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst, Jetmir Bucpapa, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, Lea Rusha, of Lambersart Close, Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells, Emir Hysenaj, of New Road, Crowborough, East Sussex, and Roger Coutts, of The Green, Welling, all deny conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to possess a firearm at the time of committing an offence.

Keith Borer, of Little Venice Country Park, Hampstead Lane, Maidstone, denies handling stolen goods.

Michelle Hogg, of Brinklow Crescent, Woolwich, was cleared of all three charges after the prosecution offered no evidence.

The trial continues.