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Hatton Garden raid leader Brian Reader may have 'months to live' Hatton Garden raid leader Brian Reader may have 'months to live'
(35 minutes later)
The mastermind behind the Hatton Garden jewellery raid may only have months to live, a court heard.The mastermind behind the Hatton Garden jewellery raid may only have months to live, a court heard.
Brian Reader, 77, suffered a stroke while being held at Belmarsh Prison.Brian Reader, 77, suffered a stroke while being held at Belmarsh Prison.
He and six others were due to be sentenced on Monday at Woolwich Crown Court over the £14m Hatton Garden safety deposit box heist. He and six others were due to be sentenced in a three-day hearing, starting on Monday, over the £14m Hatton Garden safety deposit box heist.
His barrister James Scobie said Reader, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, was too ill to appear via video link from the London prison.His barrister James Scobie said Reader, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, was too ill to appear via video link from the London prison.
Mr Scobie said: "He had what turned out to be a second fall in Belmarsh prison, which resulted in him being left for two days without proper care and then ultimately ending up in a critical care unit at Woolwich hospital, having had a stroke." The hearing started without Reader.
The pensioner may not "have many more months to live," the lawyer added, asking for his sentence to be adjourned. Mr Scobie said: "He [Reader] had what turned out to be a second fall in Belmarsh prison, which resulted in him being left for two days without proper care and then ultimately ending up in a critical care unit at Woolwich hospital, having had a stroke."
Judge Christopher Kinch said he did not need to be in court for the sentencing hearing and that he would revisit the matter on Wednesday when more information on Reader's condition should be available. The pensioner may not "have many more months to live," the lawyer added, asking for his sentence, due to be handed down at Woolwich Crown Court, to be adjourned.
Judge Christopher Kinch said Reader did not need to be in court for the sentencing hearing and that he would revisit the matter on Wednesday when more information on the prisoner's condition should be available.
The court heard Reader has a history of prostate cancer, was treated for septicaemia and has a growth on his face which is potentially cancerous.The court heard Reader has a history of prostate cancer, was treated for septicaemia and has a growth on his face which is potentially cancerous.
Mr Scobie also told the court Reader's recovery had not been aided by the nine armed officers who guarded him in hospital. Mr Scobie also told the court Reader's recovery was not aided by the nine armed officers who guarded him in hospital.
The lawyer also said he was concerned Belmarsh Prison was not capable of adequately caring for his client, who has reduced vision in his right eye and problems hearing.
He said: "He [Reader] is a double Category A prisoner, which we view with nothing other than scorn given his age and other factors."
A report from a doctor indicated one of the reasons Reader had a stroke was because the secure unit he was in did not have "sufficient capacity" to look after his health concerns, said Mr Scobie.
Opening the sentencing, prosecutor Philip Evans said the "group of thieves" brought with them a "great deal of experience in planning and executing sophisticated and serious acquisitive crime".