Gearbox crunching and loss of rear wheel drive

Metty said:

My 57 plate defender has started making some very unhealthy noises from the gearbox. It's a crunching noise and happens in forwards and backwards.

I removed the prop shaft to the rear wheels and lost drive altogether. Although strangely if you put the handbrake on while it is in gear it starts to drive with the same crunching noise.

Any ideas?

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