Heathrow Raid: Suspect Sings Like A Canary

WE join the action at the Central Criminal Court as one Barry Hibberd is denying being part of the six-strong gang that stole £1.75 million of goods in a raid on Heathrow warehouse on February 2004.

Mr Hibberd assures the court that he not a thief. He is a singer. He is charged with nine counts of possessing firearms with intent to endanger life, four of possessing ammunition without certificates, one of possessing a prohibited weapon and one of attempting grievous bodily harm with intent.

It’s a tough crowd, her honour. “I’m a singer, I’m a performer,” he assures one and all. Mr Hibberd was in number of bands. He can’t remember the names of them but they were in the arena of “commercial soul”, though a couple were “more rocky”. He made a “couple of dance records”.

He tells of his “high falsetto voice”. He does voice over work. He bows towards the microphone. He growls: “Some of them are there to hurt you, some of them are there to help you.”

The Times says this is, apparently, a line form the film Transformers. It might be comment on the audiences Mr Hibberd has performed for.

So he is no robber. “Of course I’m not; I’m a singer. I’ve never made any money from crime. Always working for a living. Never signed on.”

Mr Hibberd is delivering a bravura performance. He was 39 when he was locked up in Belmarsh prison. “They say life begins at 40,” he offers, “I hope it doesn’t in this case.”

Boom! Boom! Bang! Bang!

Anorak

Posted: 31st, July 2007 | In: Money Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink