AN EAST Finchley man has been charged in connection with the £40 million raid of a central London jewellers.

Thomas Thomas, of Durham Road, is one of nine people to be arrested and charged following Britain's largest robbery at Graff Jewellers in New Bond Street on August 6.

The 45-year-old was arrested yesterday and is due at Wimbledon Magistrates court today charged with conspiracy to rob the jewellers between August 3 and 7.

During the raid, staff were threatened at gun point before robbers stole luxury rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches worth £40m.

They then used a series of getaway cars and a motorcycle to escape across the capital, firing two shots in the process.

Police offered a £1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved.

The eight other people arrested and charged in connection with the case have all appeared in court, and have been remanded in custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court October 23 for a plea and case management hearing.

All are accused of conspiring “together with others” to rob the jewellers.

Solomun Beyene, 24, of St John's Wood, and 26-year-old Craig Calderwood, of no fixed abode appeared Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on August 21 charged with conspiracy to rob and possession of a fire arm, namely a handgun.

Clinton Mogg, 42, from Bournemouth appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 22 charged with conspiracy rob. It was the same charge for Gregory Jones, 29, from Harrow, and 30-year-old Courtney Lawrence from Notting Hill, who appeared at a Magistrates Court in late August.

Both Benjamine McFarlane, 21, of St John's Wood, and Aman Kassaye, 24, of no fixed abode, previously appeared Wimbledon Magistrates' Court in September on the same charges.

Kassaye also faces charges of attempted murder, holding someone hostage and using a handgun to resist arrest.

David Joseph, 22, of Camberwell, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on September 8 charged with conspiracy to rob.