Terry Perkins, who took part in the Hatton Garden jem raid, has died in prison aged 69
One of the masterminds of the Hatton Garden jewellery raid has died in prison aged 69.
Terry Perkins, who suffered from diabetes and heart problems, was serving a seven-year sentence in HMP Belmarsh for the £27million heist.
He was found dead just a week after he was ordered to pay £6.5million back to authorities or face a longer sentence.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘HMP Belmarsh prisoner Terry Perkins died in custody on Monday 05 February 2018.
‘As with all deaths in custody, there will be an independent investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.’
Perkins had celebrated his 67th birthday over the weekend of the raid in Easter 2015. It was said he hoped to use the stolen loot as a ‘pension’.
He was one of those involved from start to finish and entered the safety deposit premises on both nights of the heist.
The aging gang of criminals were caught after Perkins (centre) was seen on a secret camera imitating how the drill used in the raid worked
Perkins was a career criminal who was previously involved in the well-known Security Express heist in east London in 1985.
That raid, which like the Hatton Garden break-in, also took place over the bank holiday Easter weekend, was masterminded by John Knight, the brother the former husband of actress Barbara Windsor.
In that raid, the gang stole £6million from the vaults of Securicor. Perkins was jailed for 22 years in 1985 for his role in the break-in.
After coming out of the prison, he set himself up as a property developer and, like a number of other members of the Hatton Garden gang, lived in Enfield.
He did not go through the drilled holes into the vault and is thought to have stayed outside being handed the stolen goods.
He was later recorded by police saying he wished he’d taken a photo during the raid.
He took his arrest and trial over the Hatton Garden heist in his stride and often joked during court proceedings.
During a technical hitch during court appearance, he said: ‘Could you ask the judge and yourselves to come down so we can have tea together?’
Perkins took part in the Hatton Garden raid over the weekend of his 67th birthday
