Eddie Maher, jailed today for five years

Suffolk: Fast Eddie Maher sentenced to five years in prison for 1993 £1.2m Securicor van heist

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
4:12 PM

EDDIE Maher – known as “Fast Eddie” – has been jailed for five years at Southwark Crown Court after admitting the 1993 theft of a security van containing £1.2million.

Maher spent almost 20 years on the run in the US.

The 235 days he has served on remand will be taken into consideration and Maher will be eligible for release after serving half his sentence.

Sentencing Maher, Mr Justice Nicol said: “I am told that in your teenage years you joined the army and served two tours in Northern Ireland.

“You were then in the fire service. Both occupations will have involved commendable public service.

“You then ran a pub in Kent but the pub was damaged. You had to sell up and debts started to accumulate.

“The temptation to commit the present offence must have been too great.

“You told the authorities that after your arrest you only received £40,000. Your wife has said it was about £200,000. If she is right, you made a very substantial gain, even if as you have said the money was lost over the intervening period.”

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19 comments

I ask all of you writing here complaining about the sentence: Would you vote for a government that was really tough on crime .... I mean really tough like China and Singapore? I think the country is soft: When I write anything on these comments' pages which states the harsh punishments I would give criminals, they are censored (i.e. not printed) and when I write them on other websites they are printed but then voted down by the UK public. You get the society you deserve and the UK deserves what it is getting.

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Johnthebap

Saturday, March 9, 2013
He'd already scammed a pension from the Fire Service by pretending to injure his shoulder and retire after 12 years service. The man is a serial offender.

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Roger Baker

Thursday, March 7, 2013
Count me in! Who says crime does not pay? Has our society really gone totally mad or have I!

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Bruce Wade

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Wow 2 and half year to serve .minus 6 months on tag not bad for over a million pound. He'l get out sell his story. The bbc will use more tax payers money for a drama series. ...... Better tell the wife im goin on holiday for 2 years . Cus im well up for that

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Buxton

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
It show crime really DOES pay. I would do 2.5 years inside on good behaviour for 1 million and and American dream

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the opinion man

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Five years is a joke he will be out in 2-12 years. If you had told him 20 years ago. that if he stole 1m and if he got caught, he would get 2-12 years he would have took it.

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mr prentice

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Wow 2 and half year to serve .minus 6 months on tag not bad for over a million pound. He'l get out sell his story. The bbc will use more tax payers money for a drama series. ...... Better tell the wife im goin on holiday for 2 years . Cus im well up for that

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Buxton

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
2 to 3 years time - not 23!

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Mrs.Yetti-Goose-Creature

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
5 years is a joke, what sort of deterrent is that to any would be thief? He's had a good time, won't have to pay a penny back either. He'll get out of prison in 23 years won't he? So when I'm older and can't afford to live and pay my bills, I'll do a bank job, then when they catch me and put me away, I'll get all my bills paid as I'll be exempt from any expenses thanks to H.M. Prison, I'll be better looked after in prison than the majority of pensioners in this country, but then I suppose if I was a foreigner, they'd do all they can to see that I'm cared for! The justice system in this country sucks!

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Mrs.Yetti-Goose-Creature

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
i do not condone the crime but he was smart and did not hurt any one, does seem a bit mad for a 5 year stretch all that trouble. money is evil proven yet again !

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rumbler

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Didn't know it was April 1st - "5 years" ? Now where's my shotgun and balaclava....??

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Sarky Sage

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
CRAZY COUNTRY THIS IS ,,WASTED ALL THAT POLICE TIME , AND NOW GOT TO WASTE TAX-PAYERS MONEY TO LOOK AFTER HIM ,, JUST AS WELL TO HAVE LEFT HIM IN AMERICA AND FOR GOT ABOUT HIM

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MIGUEL100

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
He will only have to do a third of the time on good behaviour...and the say crime doesn't pay?...the sentence is a joke!! should have been double - soft touch UK justice system - laughing stock of the world...

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Chris Ward

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
So basically 2 years inside for robbing 1.2 million. What a absolute bargain. I'd get about the same if I stole your telly...

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Ron Raga

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
in reality, 2 and a half years prison for 20 years of luxury???? sounds like a good deal for any potential robbers out there. this country....

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Ted Maul

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
so 5 yrs take off half for good behaviour then take off 235 days he already served which mean he be free in roughly 2 yrs,not really worth sending him to prison is it,doesnt say much for our justice service does it,

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maria stu

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Out in 2.5 years on good behaviour, that equates to £480,000 per year....and they say crime doesn't pay!!!!

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Peter Achandunie

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Proof that crime pays. I'll do 5 years for £1.2 milllion. It's about time they built more prisons and give proper sentices with NO time for good behaviour.

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Dizzy

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
5 years in prison is it really worth it what a joke he was on the run for 20 odd years that 5 years he be free

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Antony Perkins

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

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