SIX members of an organised gang, including the stepfather of two TOWIE stars, were jailed today for more than 23 years after a million pound gold and silver bullion heist in Belguim.

The heist was masterminded by David Chatwood, stepfather of Sam and Billie Faiers.

It was uncovered when international lorry driver Brian Mulcahy, 46, was found locked in the back of his firm's bullion security van in Wetteren, Germany on October 4 last year.

He claimed to have been the victim of an armed robbery during which 25 kilos of gold bullion and 150 kilos of silver worth £1 million were stolen.

David Chatwood and John Corely were the brains behind the operation and organised the gang, with Mulcahy acting as the inside man.

Corley, Gary Cummings and Matthew Middleton carried out the fake hijacking of the van and robbery of bullion.

Stanley Rose was in charge of logistics, booking hotel rooms and looking after the bullion once it had been stolen.

David Gale was a senior member of the gang and oversaw the testing and viewing of the bullion.

A joint investigation by the Metropolitan Police, Europol and Belgian police unravelled the scheme, which involved seven criminals.

The team swooped in on Rose on October 13 in rooms in Antwerp he had rented to stash the bullion, which resulted in nearly all of the gold and silver being recovered.

Rose was arrested, followed by Gale as he was heading to the coast.

Both men were extradited back to the UK and the other members of the gang were arrested shortly after.

Today at the Old Bailey the following men were sentenced for conspiracy to steal:

  • Gary Steven Cummings, 51, of Anne Way, Hainault, was sentenced for three years
  • David Chatwood, 58, of Sawyers Grove, Brentwood, sentenced to four years
  • John Corley, 53, of Stock Hill, Biggin Hill, sentenced to six years
  • Brian Mulcahy, 46, of Grosevnor Road, Westcliffe-on-Sea, was sentenced to three years and six months
  • Stanley Rose, 75,  of Iver Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, was sentenced to four years
  • David Gale, 56, of Parkfields, Roydon, was sentenced to three years 

A seventh man, Matthew Middleton, 42, of Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill, is due to be sentenced at a later date for conspiracy to steal.

Detective Superintendent Steve Ratcliffe said: "This was a very well planned and sophisticated criminal venture which was foiled by the tenacity and hard work of the officers under my command and the excellent working relationship they had with Europol which made the fast time arrest of suspects in Belgium possible. 

"The Belgian police did a fantastic job of ensuring key players were held and arrested at exactly the right time ensuring that all of the evidence was gathered and all the pieces of the jigsaw came together."