A convicted robber escaped from prison - then called his local paper to say jail was 'driving me insane'. But fugitive Greggor Grey, 42, has vowed to hand himself in.
He had served 17 years of a sentence for robbery when he absconded from HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire on May 15. It is understood he could have been released after just three years as part of an indeterminate Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) but he has remained behind bars, BirminghamLive reports.
Police have warned the public not to approach the fugitive. In an emotional phone call to a BirminghamLive reporter, Grey said he intended to give himself up before his next scheduled parole hearing.
READ MORE : Airline apologises after 'nightmare' wait at Manchester Airport baggage reclaim as luggage piles up
Speaking about the years in jail he has spent, he said: "We're in prison for the last 17 years. It's driving me insane."
The long-term prisoner added he planned to return to jail before his next parole hearing on June 14. In one outburst, he told the paper: "I thought about just giving them the raw uncut emotion that I deal with on a daily basis."
Grey gave no indication of where he was during their brief phone call. It is understood he was initially subject of a three year minimum IPP - a controversial sentence which was abolished in 2012. But those handed an IPP sentence before the change still have to abide by its terms.
Offenders sentenced to an IPP are set a minimum term which they must serve before they can apply to the Parole Board for release. But the board will only release an offender if satisfied that it is no longer necessary to keep them in jail for the protection of the public.
IPPs were launched in 2005 but scrapped in 2012 after being described as the 'single greatest stain' on the criminal justice system by former Supreme Court justice, Lord Brown. But the decision was not retrospective - meaning those serving an IPP sentence still have to apply to the parole board for their freedom.
In 2019, the M.E.N. revealed the shocking case of Wayne Bell who was just 17 when he was locked up for robbery in 2007 - he punched another lad and took his bike in Ladybarn Park in south Manchester. He remained behind bars 12 years later.
In a previous statement, Derbyshire Police said of fugitive Greggor Grey: "We are appealing for information after a convict absconded from HMP Sudbury. Greggor Grey left the open prison on Sunday 15 May.
"The 42-year-old who is serving a life sentence for robbery is described as black, 5ft 11ins tall and of stocky build. He is known to use the aliases of Moses Blake, McGreggor Gray and Marcus Osbourne and has links to the Leicester and Birmingham areas.
"Anyone who has seen him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact Derbyshire police quoting reference 688-150522. If you see Grey, please do not approach him, but contact police immediately.
"You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org. In an emergency you should always call 999."
