The Epic Brink's-Mat Robbery: Unraveling the Astonishing True Tale of Gold's Untold Heist

The Gold, a BBC heist miniseries, is based on the true story of the infamous Brink's-Mat robbery that took place in November 1983. This shocking and notorious robbery, which became one of the largest in British history, involved the theft of $33.2 million USD worth of gold bars, diamonds, and cash from a Brink's-Mat warehouse. In today's terms, this amount would be equivalent to $133.6 million USD. Brink's-Mat was a partnership between the US-based security company Brink's and the London-based company MAT Transport.

Originally aired on BBC One in February 2023, The Gold will make its debut on Paramount+ on Sunday, June 25th. While it may not be considered one of the best BBC dramas ever produced, the miniseries has received generally positive reviews and has garnered interest from Paramount for distribution. With six hour-long episodes, The Gold boasts an ensemble cast including esteemed actors like Hugh Bonneville, Emun Elliot, Charlotte Spender, Stefanie Martini, Tom Cullen, and Jack Lowden. While The Gold is inspired by true events and has been dramatized for entertainment purposes, the actual story of the Brink's-Mat robbery is even more unbelievable than fiction.

Who Was Responsible For 1983's Brink's-Mat Robbery

Robinson, known as 'The Colonel', was considered the leader of the criminal gang responsible for the Brink's-Mat Robbery. Despite being only 30 years old, Mickey 'The Nutter' McAvoy was recognized as one of the most skilled and dangerous armed robbers in the UK. With a history of multiple prison sentences, Robinson had established himself as a notorious armed robber by the age of 40. During the time of the infamous heist, Robinson resided with his partner Jennifer and their two young sons. It was through Jennifer that Robinson formed a connection with Anthony Black, a security guard at the Brink's-Mat compound located at the Heathrow International Trading Estate. Black's position granted him exclusive access to the warehouse filled with valuable assets, which ultimately drew Robinson closer to him.

How Did The Criminals Break Into Brink's-Mat's Warehouse (& What Was Stolen)

In the early morning of November 26th, 1983, the criminals involved in the robbery infiltrated Unit 7 of the Brink's-Mat warehouse near Heathrow Airport in London, England. With the assistance of Anthony Black, who had been convinced by Robinson to aid them, the gang gained access to the warehouse. Inside, they subjected the staff to horrifying acts, dousing them with gasoline and menacing to ignite a match unless they revealed the precise combination of numbers required to enter the main vault.

To their astonishment, the collective efforts of the robbers yielded approximately 6,614 lbs. of pure gold, which amounted to 6,840 gold bars neatly packed into 76 individual cardboard boxes. Notably, the gold was not a usual part of the warehouse's inventory; it had been temporarily stored for one night as it awaited transportation to China. Additionally, the robbers stumbled upon and seized 1,000 carats of diamonds and $250,000 worth of traveler's checks, despite their initial intention to steal only around $1.3 million in Spanish pesetas.

The Brink's-Mat Robbery Convictions Explained

Kenneth Noye, one of the accomplices in the robbery, received a prison sentence of 14 years. Garth Chappell was sentenced to ten years, while Brian Reader was given eight years for their involvement. All three were found guilty of conspiring to handle the stolen gold. Michael Relton, who was convicted of money laundering, received a 12-year sentence. Kathleen McAvoy, who was charged with conspiracy, received a comparatively shorter sentence of eighteen months. Gordon Parry was sentenced to ten years, Brian Perry to nine years, Patrick Clark to six years, and Jean Savage to five years for their roles in the crime.

Was The Gold Stolen During The Brink's-Mat Robbery Ever Recovered?

The majority of the stolen gold from the Brink's-Mat robbery remained untraceable and was not recovered by authorities. Some small quantities of gold, equivalent to around $2.5 million USD in today's value, were found in various locations, including storage in the Bank of England. It is believed that approximately half of the stolen gold re-entered the gold market after being melted down and repurposed, potentially ending up back in the hands of its original owners.

After 1983, it is speculated that anyone who purchased gold in the United Kingdom may have unknowingly possessed gold that was stolen in the Brink's-Mat robbery. In terms of financial restitution, McAvoy was ordered to repay the entire stolen amount of $33.2 million, a task he was unable to fulfill. Lloyd's of London, a globally recognized insurance company, had to make an unprecedented insurance payout for the full sum that was stolen.

What Happened To The Criminals Since The Brink's-Mat Robbery

Rumors of a suspected curse arose in the wake of multiple killings involving individuals connected to the Brink's-Mat robbery, as depicted in the miniseries "The Gold" on BBC and Paramount+. These incidents included the deaths of McAvoy, Robinson, Noye, and Perry. McAvoy passed away in January 2023 at the age of 71 in Spain due to cancer, while Robinson died in a nursing home in February 2021. Noye, who had been released from prison in 1994 only to be jailed again for a nineteen-year sentence after committing murder, was released once more in 2019. Tragically, Perry was shot and killed shortly after his release from prison in 2001. Additionally, John Palmer, who had been cleared of charges related to handling stolen gold but later arrested for fraud in 2001, served four years in prison before being released. However, he was convicted of fraud again in 2007 and ultimately met a fatal end in 2015 when he was shot outside his home, believed to be a professional assassination.