Who was Brian ‘The Colonel’ Robinson?

BRIAN Robinson was one of the main figures in the notorious Brink's-Mat heist in 1983.

He was jailed in 1984 for his involvement, from which he didn't receive any of the gold. But what else do we know about him?

Who was Brian Robinson?

Robinson was one of the six armed robbers involved in the Brink’s-Mat heist in November 1983.

The £26million gold raid of gold bullion, diamonds, and cash was stolen from a warehouse in Heathrow, was one of the biggest in British history.

At that time, Robinson was a 40-year-old career criminal who had served several prison sentences and was on a Flying Squad list of London’s 20 most prolific armed robbers.

Their £26million haul is worth more than £100million in today’s currency.

Robinson lived with partner Jennifer and their two young sons in a council flat at the time of the heist.

Jennifer’s brother, Tony Black, was a security guard at the Brink’s-Mat Heathrow compound and was groomed by Robinson.

Former soldier Black let the masked gang into the warehouse just after 6.30am that November morning as five guards were preparing to deliver 6,800 gold ingots for a flight to the Far East.

The police soon worked out the relationship- between Black and Robinson, who cracked under questioning.

Why was Brian Robinson known as The Colonel?

Robinson was known as the colonel because he was seen as the leader of the group that took part in the heist.

A colonel in the army is the highest field-grade military rank.

Robinson was picked out in an identity parade by one of the guards at the warehouse as the robber referred to in court as the “Cool Boss.”

When did Brian Robinson die?

He died in a nursing home in Kidbrooke, South East , on February 28, 2021.