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Reggie Kray's letters to Bradford woman auctioned | Reggie Kray's letters to Bradford woman auctioned |
(1 day later) | |
Letters written by East End gangster Reggie Kray have gone under the hammer at a West Yorkshire auction house. | |
The 24 letters were written to a Bradford woman, known only as Janet, who befriended Kray in the late 1980s while he was in prison for murder. | The 24 letters were written to a Bradford woman, known only as Janet, who befriended Kray in the late 1980s while he was in prison for murder. |
Auctioneer Gary Don said: "They offer an incredible insight. If you read them you wouldn't think he was a gangster." | Auctioneer Gary Don said: "They offer an incredible insight. If you read them you wouldn't think he was a gangster." |
The letters from Kray, who died of cancer in 2000 aged 67, sold for £1,100. | |
They were written while Kray was serving a life sentence for the gangland murder of Jack "The Hat" McVitie. | They were written while Kray was serving a life sentence for the gangland murder of Jack "The Hat" McVitie. |
Kray stabbed McVitie to death in a north London flat. His brother Ronnie was also convicted of the murder. | Kray stabbed McVitie to death in a north London flat. His brother Ronnie was also convicted of the murder. |
The twin brothers were sentenced in 1969 to not less than 30 years in prison. | The twin brothers were sentenced in 1969 to not less than 30 years in prison. |
'Massive relationship' | 'Massive relationship' |
Mr Don said the letters from Reggie Kray to Janet showed a "totally different side" to the infamous gangster. | Mr Don said the letters from Reggie Kray to Janet showed a "totally different side" to the infamous gangster. |
"He talks about world cruises, which I suppose you would do if you were in prison," he said. | "He talks about world cruises, which I suppose you would do if you were in prison," he said. |
"He was a bit of a health freak, very much into yoga and keeping fit. There's a lot of that in the letters." | "He was a bit of a health freak, very much into yoga and keeping fit. There's a lot of that in the letters." |
However, Mr Don said the letters also revealed a burgeoning and intimate relationship between the pair, which saw Janet visiting Kray in prison. | However, Mr Don said the letters also revealed a burgeoning and intimate relationship between the pair, which saw Janet visiting Kray in prison. |
"They aren't 'lovey-dovey' letters, but obviously there was a massive relationship going on there," he said. | "They aren't 'lovey-dovey' letters, but obviously there was a massive relationship going on there," he said. |
A teddy bear which Kray gave as a present to Janet and a painting of a beach scene called Tranquillity, which he painted in prison, were also included in the auction. |
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