In Netflix’s docuseries “The Diamond Heist,” which premiered on April 16, 2025, Lee Wenham is interviewed regarding a daring heist known as The Millennium Dome raid. This robbery, which could rival a plot from a Guy Ritchie film, was attempted by Wenham and six others, dubbed the “Diamond Geezers,” in an effort to steal the De Beers Millennium Star diamond valued at over £350 million. The British police thwarted their scheme, as depicted in the docuseries executive produced by Guy Ritchie.
Ray Betson, the alleged mastermind, orchestrated the heist by driving a JCB excavator through the dome’s perimeter. Robert “Bob the Builder” Adams assisted in breaking the protective glass housing the diamonds, recruited just a day before the operation. William “Bill” Cockram weakened the glass with a nail gun, described as “the muscle” in the heist. Aldo Ciarrocchi, the technician, deployed smoke bombs as a diversion. Terence “Terry” Millman served as the getaway driver.
Wenham, who helped plan the robbery, shared that his involvement in crime began early due to dyslexia and working with his father, rumored to be a local gangster. Adams had a prior conviction for a stabbing incident. Cockram had spent time in jail for various offenses. Ciarrocchi’s supposed motive was romantic, aiming to start anew with an American model. Millman, the getaway driver, had a criminal record including armed robbery.
The whereabouts and current status of these individuals involved in the Millennium Dome raid are detailed in the Netflix docuseries, shedding light on their past criminal activities and their roles in the unsuccessful heist.
In the docuseries, Wenham described Millman as a “madman” with a previous 14-year prison sentence, who had no qualms about resorting to violence. Kevin Meredith, a man with no criminal record apart from borrowing money from Cockram to repair his boat, was offered £10,000 by Cockram to drive thieves away on a boat from the Thames River. The robbers gained access to the Millennium Dome by using a JCB excavator to breach the steel gates and barriers surrounding the venue, as revealed in The Diamond Heist.
Despite their elaborate planning, the “Diamond Geezers” were compromised from the beginning as authorities were tipped off about the heist months in advance. Surveillance footage captured Wenham scouting the Dome, while Cockram and Betson were seen testing a speedboat for their getaway. During the raid, armed officers were present at the Dome, disguised as staff, and allowed the thieves to enter the vault where they were subsequently arrested.
Following the trial in November 2001, Millman passed away before proceedings began, while Betson and Cockram received 15-year sentences for conspiracy to rob. Adams was sentenced to 15 years, later reduced to 12 years on appeal, and Ciarrocchi received a 12-year sentence. Meredith was acquitted of conspiracy to rob but found guilty of conspiracy to steal, resulting in a five-year prison term.
Adams passed away in prison, Betson is back behind bars for another robbery, and the fate of the other individuals involved in The Diamond Heist varies.
The failed attempt at robbing a cash depot occurred in March 2012, with authorities discovering the culprit’s DNA on a balaclava left at the scene. In 2018, The Sun reported that Louis Betson, son of the perpetrator, was apprehended for assaulting and robbing a taxi driver in Kent, United Kingdom. He was sentenced to two years and three months in a juvenile detention facility. In 2012, Cockram filed a lawsuit against the police for allegedly causing him a black eye and fracturing his cheekbone during his arrest, as reported by The Evening Standard. Ciarrocchi later gained attention for transforming a skate park into a holiday residence for his family, according to The Times of London.
Lee Wenham’s current whereabouts are featured in Netflix’s docuseries ‘The Diamond Heist,’ released in 2025. In an interview with The Telegraph that year, Wenham admitted feeling more anxious before his sentencing than during his time in prison. Reflecting on his experience, he expressed regret about missing out on his daughters’ early years but felt a sense of relief after being sentenced. In ‘The Diamond Heist,’ Wenham shared that his prison experience was not as daunting as he had anticipated, and he adapted well to the environment.
Presently, Wenham is known as the author of the book ‘A Diamond Geezer’ and works as a landscaper. He mentioned to Rolling Stone U.K. that he was recognized only once for the heist post-release and has remained law-abiding since. Despite staying out of trouble, he revisited the crime scene during a concert at The O2, reflecting on his past actions.
