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  "path": "/news/hatton-garden-burglar-michael-seed-released-jail-mistake-prison-sentence",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-15T04:00:32.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Woman filmed herself speeding before killing two in crash WEEKS after test",
    "Two men jailed for combined total of 63 years for plotting mass shooting against Jews",
    "Neighbour from hell left woman scared in her own home after bizarre campaign of attacks",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nA burglar who was part of the infamous Hatton Garden heist was set free after officials \"miscalculated\" the length of his sentence.\n\nMichael Seed, now 65, took part in the security box heist over the Easter bank holiday weekend in April 2015.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSeed, known as \"Basil the Ghost\", and an elderly crew stole £13.6million in jewels and valuables from Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd.\n\nHe received nearly £5million for his role in the extraordinary raid - but was the last to be caught by police.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"Basil\" was jailed for 10 years in March 2019, then was handed another six years in 2022 after repaying just £50,000 of his takings.\n\nHe was not due for release until June 2027.\n\nBut Seed was set free from HMP High Down in August last year after officials miscalculated the length of his sentence, The Sun revealed.\n\nThe thief from Islington spent six months on the loose before being returned to prison on February 5.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Ministry of Justice confirmed he was \"released in error\" from the facility in Sutton, on August 12, 2025.\n\nA spokesman for the department said: \"A prisoner who was released in error from HMP High Down last August has been returned to custody.\n\n\"These cases have exposed deep-rooted issues across the broken justice system the Government inherited.\n\n\"We’re determined to bear down on these mistakes and keep the public safe, which is why we’ve introduced tougher new checks, launched an independent investigation into releases in error and are investing millions to modernise technology to replace archaic paper-based systems.\"\n\n### LATEST CRIME NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Woman filmed herself speeding before killing two in crash WEEKS after test\n  * Two men jailed for combined total of 63 years for plotting mass shooting against Jews\n  * Neighbour from hell left woman scared in her own home after bizarre campaign of attacks\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe gang of six captured the public consciousness in 2015 - with Seed considered of its ringleaders.\n\nThe famous heist has been the subject of three films, including 2018's King of Thieves, starring Michael Caine.\n\nBurglars worked through the four-day weekend of the Easter and Passover Bank Holiday, when many of the nearby businesses were closed.\n\nSeed knocked out the alarms, allowing his fellow burglars to enter the vault during the heist - and was one of two men who climbed into the vault through a hole drilled through a thick wall.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe \"Diamond Wheezers\" gang were said to have entered the premises, in the heart of London's diamond district, through a lift shaft - then drilled through the 50cm thick vault walls with a Hilti power drill.\n\nThey were slapped with one of the biggest confiscation orders in Scotland Yard's history.\n\nUnlike the rest of the crew, who were captured in 2015, Seed managed to evade the police until March 28, 2018.\n\nIn a raid on his council flat after he failed to hand over his cash, police discovered gold bars, gems, and jewellery worth £143,000.\n\nIt was revealed during his trial that Seed had never paid taxes, claimed no benefits, and rarely used a bank account.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "Notorious Hatton Garden burglar freed from jail by mistake after officials 'miscalculated' 10-year prison sentence"
}