An escaped prisoner who had been on the run for more than three weeks appeared in a podcast, saying his stay in prison was causing “heartache”.
Gregor Gray, who has so far served a 17-year sentence for robbery, fled HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire in mid-May.
While on the run, Gray appeared in an episode of the Birmingham-based podcast The Chop Shop, which aired Wednesday.
Speaking to podcast hosts, Gray said: “You currently have a man who talks to you while you run.
“I’m not hiding from anyone, my name is Gregor Gray,” he said.
He added that he escaped from prison because of the “injustice and heartache” he experienced while in prison, adding that he himself cried to sleep every night while in prison.
Gray’s initial sentence was reported to be four years, but he remains in prison for a public protection sentence (IPP).
The IPP sentence, which is described as “an indefinite sentence aimed at serious offenders”, means that offenders must serve a minimum term before they can apply for parole. However, the board will only approve the offender’s release if it considers the offender to be “safe enough”.
Although the IPP sentence was handed down in 2005, the policy was repealed in 2012 after being described as the “single biggest stain” in the criminal justice system by a former Supreme Court judge. The decision has not been implemented retroactively, so those who have already been penalized for IPP remain so.
On May 21, BirminghamLive reported that Gray had called one of their reporters, saying that his imprisonment had driven him “crazy” and that he planned to return to prison before his next parole hearing on June 14.
In a previous statement, Derbyshire police said: “We are appealing for information after the convict is hiding from HMP Sudbury.
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Gregor Gray left the open prison [on 15 May]he is known to use the pseudonyms of Moses Blake, McGregor Gray and Marcus Osborne and has links to the Leicester and Birmingham areas.
“Anyone who has seen him or knows his whereabouts has been asked to contact the Derbyshire police, citing reference number 688-150522.
“If you see Gray, please do not approach him, but contact the police immediately.
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