A cage fighter who helped plan Britain's biggest cash robbery is facing a lengthy jail term after admitting three charges relating to the heist.

Paul Allen, 31, fled to Morocco with fellow fighter Lee Murray after the £53 million hold-up in Tonbridge, Kent.

Mr Allen, of Chatham, Kent, admitted three charges of conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to rob, and conspiracy to possess firearms at Woolwich Crown Court.

He made the admissions on the basis that he was neither one of the robbers who entered the depot nor one of the kidnappers of depot manager Colin Dixon and his family. Sentencing is due to take place next Monday.

Mr Allen's agreed basis of plea also said that he did not handle or obtain any firearms and that he was working for Mr Murray and "did his bidding" in the planning of the robbery. It also stated that his only benefit was property in Morocco.

Roger Coe-Salazar, chief Crown prosecutor for Kent, said: "The Securitas robbery was meticulously organised and we have never had any doubts that Paul Allen played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of it."

Mr Allen and Mr Murray fled to begin a luxury lifestyle as police began rounding up their fellow conspirators.

They splashed out on sumptuous villas and expensive jewellery, while thousands of pounds were also spent on plastic surgery for their wives and girlfriends.

But the men's four-month spree of snorting cocaine, gambling in casinos and luxury shopping was to end in the rat-infested basement of a Moroccan jail. Mr Allen spent 20 months in the Rabat "hell hole" before being extradited while Mr Murray, whose father was Moroccan, claimed nationality to avoid British justice.