A brutal raid to stage one of the most valuable jewellery heists in history left some of the treasures shattered and broken with GBP 22 million in damage caused, a court has heard.

The burglary at the Green Vault museum in Dresden, Germany, netted a EUR-113-million (GBP-100-million) haul of fabulous gems, including a 63-carat white diamond.

But – a Dresden court heard on Tuesday, 10th January – the raid was so violent that some of the priceless treasures were damaged there and later after the theft.

Six gang members accused of taking part in their heist, which saw some 4,300 items stolen, are currently on trial.

CCTV security footage shows one gang member breaking the glass on a display cabinet with a brutal double-handed axe attack.

One item on display reportedly broke into pieces when it was removed.

Art expert Eche Begov, 55, told the court that some pieces of jewellery were effectively destroyed in the raid in November 2019.

Others were badly damaged when they were stashed by the gang.

Some items are said to have sustained severe damage from improper storage and botched cleaning attempts.

The revelations came after police retrieved a “considerable part” of the loot.

Investigators have offered reduced sentences if the defendants tell them where the remaining treasures are.

Four defendants are said to have taken up the offer.

The looted items included a sword with a diamond-encrusted hilt and a shoulder piece which contained the 62-carat Dresden white diamond from the Golconda mines in Southern India.

The six defendants have been named as Abdul Majed Remmo, 22, Rabih Remmo, 28, Mohamed Remmo, 22, Wissam Remmo, 22, Bashir Remmo, 25, and Ahmed Remmo, 23.

The trial against them was opened in January 2022 and is still ongoing.

The police explained that the seized items were transferred to a secure location and are currently guarded by special police forces.

A forensics team and experts from the Dresden State Art Collections should confirm the items’ authenticity and completeness.

They added: “This was preceded by exploratory talks between the defence and the public prosecutor’s office, including the court, on a possible settlement of the procedure and the return of any booty that was still there.”

Under the deal, the highest sentence would be six years and nine months behind bars.

The lowest, under juvenile criminal law, would be four years.

Confessions are expected from four of the defendants on the next trial day.