jurors, to steal an estimated £13.7m in gold, money and precious stones from 73 boxes, the court heard.

Investigators who searched Seed’s home in Islington, north London, found jewellery belonging to victims of the burglary, smelting machines, electronic devices that could be used to disable alarms, and manuals on anti-surveillance, the court was told. They also found Royal Mail and BT uniforms, which the prosecution said Seed could have used to gain access to closed-off locations.

The suspect alleged to be Seed was wearing a red wig, a blue boiler suit and had his face covered while carrying a black bin bag when he walked through the main entrance of 88-90 Hatton Garden on the Thursday before Easter. He then opened a fire exit from the inside to allow otherburglars to enter.

Evans said Seed was the final participant in the burglary – having had a leading role alongside Jones, John “Kenny” Collins, Terry Perkins and Brian Reader – and he was primarily responsible for the disabling of the alarm system.

In recordings of conversations which were played to the court, the other burglars can be heard referring to Basil’s frugal lifestyle and his willingness despite a lack of physical strength.

In the aftermath of the heist, the court heard, Seed met Collins, 78, twice in Shoreditch Park.

CCTV footage of the suspect has been seen by an expert chiropodist who concluded that it was consistent with someone with an “abnormal gait” and that it was consistent with Seed’s walk, Evans said.

A total of 1,015 items of jewellery, precious or semi-precious