Hatton Garden raider gives up his buried treasure

ONE of the Hatton Garden safe deposit burglars has been taken from prison to show police where he buried his share of the loot.

An armed convoy tailed by a police helicopter took Daniel Jones, 58, to Edmonton Cemetery in north London where he showed them where to dig.

He was taken straight back to Belmarsh prison in south London as a dozen forensic officers excavated an area of land while ten other officers stood guard. Jones’s solicitor witnessed the operation and police took photographs, which may form part of the evidence against the burglar.

Scotland Yard said property was recovered during Thursday’s dig, which lasted around four hours, but gave no details. Jones has admitted his role in the £20million raid in London’s diamond district in April and is awaiting sentence while on remand. In letters sent from his prison cell to Sky News, he said wanted to be taken out of prison to hand back his share of the ill-gotten gains, writing: ‘I want to do the right thing.’

He initially accused police of ignoring his offer, saying: ‘Maybe they think I’m going to get a hit squad to get me out.’

Prisoners are allowed to be taken from their cells to help police investigations. As a Category A prisoner, Jones is being held in a high- risk wing, subject to tougher restrictions. Last week, the Daily Mail revealed how police now believe valuables worth £20million were stolen in the heist, in which a team of burglars disguised as workmen struck at a safe deposit firm over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend – twice the original estimate.

Jones is one of four men who have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle the firm, which has since gone bust. Five others are awaiting trial at Woolwich Crown Court next month.