The mastermind behind a £7 million heist reminiscent of the Thomas Crown Affair had criminal friends burgle an elderly lady's £1 million home to drive down the price, a court has heard.

Rafaqat Hussain, 41, was said to be "at the heart of the conspiracy" which saw two Loomis van drivers steal cash belonging to Credit Suisse from inside a British Airways cargo depot at Heathrow airport.

The audacious robbery was described in court as being worthy of a Hollywood script called 'The Heathrow Heist' and a classic 'inside job'. None of the money has ever been recovered.

Hussain arranged to buy a house in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire with the stolen cash, the court heard.

After the heist he arranged for an old criminal acquaintance Gary Carrod, 33, to burgle the old lady's home in a bid to lower the price.