Michelle Hogg

You won’t find her in the IMDb but she’s probably the most famous makeup artist in the UK today.

Somehow, whether through naivity or as a willing accomplice, she became involved in the UK’s biggest ever robbery; she spent two weeks working on prosthetic disguises for the robbers. She was charged as an accomplice but four months into the trial she switched sides, agreeing to turn Queen’s evidence and testify against her former co-defendants: in return the prosecution dropped all charges against her. Whatever her motive in doing so it must have taken a significant amount of bravery, knowing the viciousness of the gang.

On one level the story sounds like one of those caper movies involving elaborate disguises (eg The Million Dollar Rip-Off) and an ‘inside’ man. But on another, it was a brutal crime, where the wife and child of the Securitas depot manager were kidnapped and held at gunpoint to ensure his cooperation.

Whatever her role, Michelle Hogg is probably going to spend a long-time in hiding — not least because at least one suspected member of the gang got away along with a large part of the money. If anyone finds her, I’d guess she’s hoping it will be an agent looking to buy the rights to her story.

And as to the photo: I’d guess she’s using all her skills not to look like this.