Thread: 'Skull Cracker' Michael Wheatley absconds from open prison

A violent armed robber dubbed "the Skull Cracker" has gone missing after being allowed out of an open prison.

Michael Wheatley, 55, was given 13 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2002 for a string of brutal raids on banks and building societies.

Kent Police said he failed to return to HMP Standford Hill open prison on the Isle of Sheppey.

Officers are now searching for Wheatley, with the public advised not to approach him.

Police said Wheatley, originally from Limehouse in east London, had links across south-east England.

He earned his nickname for using an imitation handgun as a blunt weapon to hit people - including a 73-year-old woman - during his robberies.

He raided 13 building societies and banks over 10 months in 2001 and 2002, starting just three weeks after he was released on parole from a 27-year sentence for other robberies.

The 2001-02 robberies took place over a wide area from Southampton in Hampshire to Royston in Hertfordshire.




'Completely ludicrous'


At the Old Bailey, in 2002, he received 13 life sentences for robbery and 13 concurrent five-year sentences for possessing an imitation firearm.

The judge said he must serve a minimum of eight years.

Conservative backbencher Philip Davies, MP for Shipley in West Yorkshire, said whoever allowed Wheatley out of prison was "a berk".

"It is completely ludicrous that a serving life-sentence prisoner is even in an open prison where they can simply walk out," he said.

"As far as I am concerned whoever allowed him to be in an open prison should be sacked."

A Prison Service spokesman said: "This is now a matter for the police and we are supporting them in their investigation.

"We are toughening up the release on temporary licence scheme so that prisoners will be subject to stricter risk assessments and tagged."

BBC News - 'Skull Cracker' Michael Wheatley absconds from open prison

Lol. Open prison. Like chocolate teapot. Like lace waterproof mac..... burks

was given 13 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2002

He raided 13 building societies and banks over 10 months in 2001 and 2002, starting just three weeks after he was released on parole from a 27-year sentence for other robberies.

this is why the oklahoma system shines like a beacon in the darkness that is the big girls blouse of the british judicial system.

why cant the brits realise that protecting the public from violent criminals is far more important than defending the human rights of these worthless animals who delight in working the system for their own benefit with the help of soft headed liberal left lawyers and the simpering politicians and europhiles that mistakenly believe that recidivist criminal scum can be civilised by kindness, counselling, sympathy, soft sentencing and christian forgiveness.

hang 'em high and hang 'em slow.

If only governments would realise that many of the liberal actions they embark on do not merely impress on people a lack of confidence in their system but also result in a deep rooted poisoning of society.

Speechless. My ghast is completely and utterly flabbered.

Can't wait to read the comments on the Daily Mail version.



e.g.

Sarge, Thiviers France, 2 hours ago
This is a national disgrace.

Let's see if I can get an outrageous one printed.

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

At the Old Bailey, in 2002, he received 13 life sentences for robbery and 13 concurrent five-year sentences for possessing an imitation firearm.

Seems to be a distinct lack of 'skull cracking' in the archives.

13 life sentences and he goes for a walk...They can't be serious, but I know they are... Down right stupid...

Fugitive 'Skull Cracker' Michael Wheatley in custody





Footage filmed from a window shows police arresting a man


A fugitive armed robber nicknamed the "Skull Cracker" has been arrested in east London.

Kent Police said they had detained two men, aged 55 and 53, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

The force added: "The 55-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of being unlawfully at large."

Michael Wheatley, who absconded from HMP Standford Hill in Kent on Saturday, was given 13 life sentences in 2002 for raids on banks and building societies.

He has gone on the run twice in the past and each time staged a series of violent robberies before he was caught and re-jailed.

An eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said he saw the arrest by armed police in Bow.

He said the police had machine guns and a man was wrestled to the ground.

Staff at the open prison on Sheppey raised the alert on Saturday after Wheatley had been released on temporary licence but failed to return that evening.


A witness saw the man wrestled to the ground and led into a police van



Officers took two men into custody




Police said the arrest was in connection with an earlier building society raid

On Monday, there was a confirmed sighting of him in Twickenham, south west London, and several homes were searched but he was not found.

Detectives were earlier investigating an armed robbery at Chelsea Building Society branch in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, where "a quantity of cash" was taken by a man with a handgun.

Kent Police confirmed Wheatley's arrest is in relation to the building society raid.
A spokesman for Chelsea Building Society said no-one had been hurt in the attack at the branch in The Parade, Staines Road, but staff were left shaken

BBC News - Fugitive 'Skull Cracker' Michael Wheatley in custody

quick work by the ole bill.
must have checked the cctv cameras all the way from the bank.
took about 4 or 5 hrs. to nail im.
what a dumb crust.

he is very dumb , going back to his home area to be arrested there
not as dumb as the prison system though

His illustrious career as an armed robber and serial escaper began in the 1980s when Wheatley was jailed for nine years for a raid on a Post Office.

In 1988 while still in prison he was given permission to go to hospital, but went on the run and committed nine armed robberies while at large.

His crime spree earned him a 16-year sentence on top of the nine he was already serving, but that was later reduced to 11-years on appeal.

In 1992, having seemingly failed to learn their lesson, the prison authorities granted Wheatley permission to visit the optician.

Again he took the opportunity to abscond and this time carried out eight armed robberies before eventually being caught.

This time Wheatley was given seven years on top of the 20 he was already serving but just eight years later in 2001 he was released on parole.

Within weeks, the man, who proudly announced his occupation as armed robber, had reverted to type, carrying out a total of 13 raids in just ten months.


Despite being given 13 life sentences in 2002, Wheatley was given a minimum tariff of just eight years and being prepared for release when he absconded at the weekend.

The prisons minister Jeremy Wright has now said there will be a full review of the case and an assessment of the system of the release on temporary licence process.
Last night he and his alleged associate were being questioned at Bethnal Green police station in East London.

Skull Cracker: The story behind Michael Wheatley's days on the run - Telegraph

there is only one way to deal with guys like that.

and it involves the use of a rope.