Escaped Hatton Garden raider is ‘former policeman’

The mysterious Hatton Garden raider known as ‘Basil’ – who remains on the run – is a former policeman, a ring leader of the £14m raid has claimed.

Danny Jones, who is awaiting his sentencing of the burglary, has claimed in a letter to Sky News that Basil was the brains behind the operation.

In his letter from Belmarsh Prison, he wrote: “I can say that someone told me he was an ex-policeman who got into security by the guy who introduced him to me

“He said Basil heard about me from a close friend on the police force, as I was arrested for a similar raid in Bond Street in 2010.

“Basil was the brains, as I was recruited by him. He let me in on the night of the burglary, he hid keys and codes throughout the building.”

However, Jones said that he did not know the true identity of Basil and would not reveal it even if he did.

He added: “I saw Basil about four times throughout, he came and went. I don’t know nothing about him, where he lives. I wasn’t interested.

“I wouldn’t give him up as I wouldn’t grass. It’s not a done thing where I come from as (I) fear for family members.”

Last year Jones also wrote to Sky News claiming that police ignored his offer to show them where he hid his share of the loot. It was later reported that police recovered what is believed to have been some of the stolen loot after a raider showed them where he had buried his share.