LONDON, Feb 6 — One of the elderly ringleaders of a massive heist in London’s Hatton Garden jewellery district died in prison yesterday, authorities said.
Terry Perkins, 69, was almost two years into a seven-year sentence at Belmarsh Prison near the capital. He had heart problems, and media reports said he died of natural causes.
Last week, he was warned by a judge that he faced another seven years in jail if he did not pay back £6.5 million (RM35.48 million) of the stolen money.
His lawyer said he did not have the money.
He was part of a gang of aged burglars which broke into a concrete vault in April 2015 using a diamond-tipped industrial drill, and made off with jewellery, gold and cash.
“Belmarsh prisoner Terry Perkins died in custody yesterday, February 5, 2018,” a Prison Service spokesman said.
“As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the prisons and probation ombudsman.”
Three other ringleaders — John Collins, 77, Daniel Jones, 63, and Brian Reader, 78 — were also ordered to pay up or serve more time behind bars. — AFP
