The vault in Hatton Garden set to be a new bar

ONE of the victims of the infamous Hatton Garden heist has warned the Town Hall that “someone is trying to profit from my misfortune”.

Lester Wiffen is among dozens of people and organisations who have lodged objections to a planning application asking for permission to transform the basement of the deposit box building into a themed-restaurant and bar based on the robbery.

The Tribune reported last week how two longstanding jewellery businesses in the diamond district will be evicted if Camden planners give the go-ahead.

This week, businesses rallied in outrage at “ghoulish” plans from the building’s landlord Pearl & Coutts they say is making a mockery of their industry.

Mr Wiffen’s objection said: “I was a victim of the Hatton garden robbery and do not appreciate someone trying to profit from my misfortune.”

The National Association of Jewellers, in its objection, said: “We are particularly concerned by the potential loss of jewellery workshop space at a time when our industry is working hard to address skills shortages, encourage new entrants into the trade and protect specialist craft skills.”

The application said the landowner Pearl and Coutts had attempted to market the space to other businesses since the crime – but there had only been “limited interest” from the jewellery trade.