Cage fighter behind Britain’s biggest armed robbery ‘paralysed in shooting at luxury home after prison release’
A CAGE fighter behind Britain’s biggest armed robbery was ‘shot in the kitchen of his luxury home after his jail release, a court heard.
Paul Allen, 41, was left paralysed for life after being blasted with two bullets from a Glock 9mm handgun in Woodford, East London.
The criminal mastermind was behind a robbery on the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent in 2006 where £54million was stolen.
He had been released from jail when he was allegedly targeted by Daniel Kelly, 46, and brothers Stewart Ahearne, 46, and Louis Ahearne, 36.
The trio are on trial at the Old Bailey charged with conspiring together and with others unknown to murder Allen.
On July 11, 2019, Allen was in the kitchen of lavish home when the men opened fire, jurors heard.
Prosecutor Michael Shaw said: “The intention of the men who planned and carried out that shooting was to kill him.
“Three of the men that planned and carried out that attack are in the dock of this crown court today.
“The first of them, shaking his head, is Daniel Kelly.”
The court was told six bullets were fired in total – with two hitting Allen.
One struck him in the centre of the throat, which left him paralysed.
Mr Shaw said he only survived thanks to the “rapid intervention of neighbours, police officers, paramedics and then the skill of the surgeons who were able to remove the bullet lodged in his spine”.
Jurors heard the defendants had carried out “planning and reconnaissance” for the attempted murder using burner phones and hired vehicles.
Mr Shaw added: “The background to this attack is that Paul Allen is a career criminal, and a very sophisticated criminal.
“He was convicted at Woolwich Crown Court for his part in what was and probably still is Britain’s biggest armed robbery at a Securitas depot in Kent when £54 million in cash was stolen.
“He had by 2019 been released from prison and lived with his partner and young children.”
Louis and Stewart Ahearne, along with Kelly, deny conspiracy to murder.
The trial continues.