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| Armed robber Michael Wheatley goes missing after temporary prison release | Armed robber Michael Wheatley goes missing after temporary prison release |
| (3 days later) | |
| A violent armed robber nicknamed the Skullcracker for a string of brutal raids on banks and building societies has gone missing after temporarily being allowed out of prison. | |
| Michael Wheatley, 55, who was given 13 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2002, failed to return to HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent police said. | Michael Wheatley, 55, who was given 13 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2002, failed to return to HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent police said. |
| Wheatley raided 13 building societies and banks over 10 months in 2001-2002 while on parole from a 27-year sentence for other robberies. He was given his notorious nickname after pistol-whipping victims during the raids. | Wheatley raided 13 building societies and banks over 10 months in 2001-2002 while on parole from a 27-year sentence for other robberies. He was given his notorious nickname after pistol-whipping victims during the raids. |
| A Kent police spokesman said: "Anyone with any information or who sees Wheatley is asked to not approach him and to instead contact police by calling 999." | A Kent police spokesman said: "Anyone with any information or who sees Wheatley is asked to not approach him and to instead contact police by calling 999." |
| The spokesman said Wheatley, originally of Limehouse in east London, had links across south-east England. | The spokesman said Wheatley, originally of Limehouse in east London, had links across south-east England. |
| Wheatley admitted 13 charges of robbery and 13 of possessing an imitation firearm – a blank-firing semi-automatic pistol – in October 2002. | Wheatley admitted 13 charges of robbery and 13 of possessing an imitation firearm – a blank-firing semi-automatic pistol – in October 2002. |
| Conservative backbencher Philip Davies said that whoever had allowed Wheatley out of prison was "a berk" and questioned why he was in an open prison in the first place. | Conservative backbencher Philip Davies said that whoever had allowed Wheatley out of prison was "a berk" and questioned why he was in an open prison in the first place. |
| The MP for Shipley in West Yorkshire said: "It is completely ludicrous that a serving life sentence prisoner is even in an open prison where they can simply walk out. | The MP for Shipley in West Yorkshire said: "It is completely ludicrous that a serving life sentence prisoner is even in an open prison where they can simply walk out. |
| "As far as I am concerned whoever allowed him to be in an open prison should be sacked, it is a complete disgrace. | "As far as I am concerned whoever allowed him to be in an open prison should be sacked, it is a complete disgrace. |
| "The top priority for the prison service should be the protection of the public. [Justice Secretary] Chris Grayling needs to put in charge of the prison service someone who will see protection of the public as a top priority." | "The top priority for the prison service should be the protection of the public. [Justice Secretary] Chris Grayling needs to put in charge of the prison service someone who will see protection of the public as a top priority." |
| The robberies between June 2001 and April the following year were mainly on small branches in areas he knew, ranging from Southampton, Hampshire, to Royston in Hertfordshire. | The robberies between June 2001 and April the following year were mainly on small branches in areas he knew, ranging from Southampton, Hampshire, to Royston in Hertfordshire. |
| The first was just three weeks after he was paroled from his first prison term. As the robberies continued, so did the violence he used towards staff and customers. | The first was just three weeks after he was paroled from his first prison term. As the robberies continued, so did the violence he used towards staff and customers. |
| In March 2002, he pistol-whipped a 73-year-old woman and a building society manager. | In March 2002, he pistol-whipped a 73-year-old woman and a building society manager. |
| The Old Bailey heard at the time he would often grab a female customer, putting the pistol to their head, leaving many mentally anguished. | The Old Bailey heard at the time he would often grab a female customer, putting the pistol to their head, leaving many mentally anguished. |
| His raids netted him more than £45,000. He was given a five-year sentence on each of the firearm offences to run concurrently with the life sentences on each of the robbery charges. He was ordered to serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for consideration for parole. | His raids netted him more than £45,000. He was given a five-year sentence on each of the firearm offences to run concurrently with the life sentences on each of the robbery charges. He was ordered to serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for consideration for parole. |