‘Skull cracker’ arrested: police investigating new raid
As Kent Police arrest missing prisoner Michael Wheatley, detectives in Surrey are investigating a raid on the Chelsea Building Society in Sunbury-on-Thames.
Police were alerted to the robbery at 10.20am and firearms officers were sent to the scene. The male robber threatened a member of staff with a handgun before demanding money from a safe and escaping with a quantity of cash. Police said the staff member was left “shaken but unhurt.”
The offender was described as a white man, in his late 40s or early 50s, around six foot tall, slim to medium build, with short grey hair. He was wearing a dark coloured woolly hat, dark-rimmed glasses, light blue jeans, a light blue denim jacket and black trainers.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Raymer, of Surrey Police, said: “Officers were at the scene within minutes of the emergency call and are doing everything possible to find the offender including recovering CCTV from the premises and surrounding area.” Officers have appealed for witnesses to the incident to come forwards.
Prisoner found
Within hours, Kent Police had announced that missing prisoner Michael Wheatley had been arrested:
“Kent Police, in partnership with officers from the Metropolitan Police, have today arrested two men in east London on suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.”
The statement said the two men were arrested at 2pm in the Tower Hamlets area.
NEWS: Kent Police is no longer looking for a 55yo man who failed to return to prison on 3 May. Two men are in custody in London. More soon
— Kent Police (UK) (@kent_police) May 7, 2014
Armed robber Michael Wheatley, aged 55, failed to return after being allowed out of Standford Hill open prison in Kent on day release on Monday. Officers have warned members of the public not to approach him.
On Tuesday police were called to an address in Twickenham, south-west London, after a reported sighting of the missing man, just five miles from today’s raid.
Known as the “skull cracker” for having pistol-whipped his victims, including a 73-year-old woman, during a series of brutal bank raids, Wheatley was given 13 life sentences in 2002.
Following his disappearance ministers have pledged a toughening-up of the licence scheme so that prisoners are subject to stricter risk assessments and tagged before release.
