Evil Harry Roberts dies aged 89 after spending 48 years behind bars for heinous murder of 3 cops
TRIPLE police killer Harry Roberts has died aged 89, The Sun can reveal.
The notorious murderer passed away in hospital last Saturday after a short illness, sources said.
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Harry Roberts shot three police officersCredit: Bav Media
The notorious killer passed away in hospitalCredit: PA:Press Association
His death comes 11 years after being freed having spent 48 years behind bars for the 1966 murders of Sgt Christopher Head, Det Con David Wombwell and PC Geoffrey Fox.
Roberts was released on license and remained under the supervision of the probation service, who have been informed of his death.
Following his controversial release from HMP Littlehey, Roberts lived in sheltered accommodation in Peterborough, Cambs, where locals had no idea of his notoriety.
The Sun photographed him last year pushing his mobility scooter after it ran out of charge.
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One associate of the former public enemy number one said: “He went into hospital recently and died suddenly last Saturday from natural causes.”
Jim O’ Connell, president of the Association of Ex-CID Officers of the Metropolitan Police, said: “Nobody will be grieving the loss of Harry Roberts.
“After a long period of imprisonment, Roberts was given the chance to enjoy his freedom in the last years of his life.
“But the families of his victims have never been free from what he did – they still live with it every day.”
Matt Cane, General Secretary of the Met’s rank and file Police Federation branch, said: “The three officers murdered by Roberts never got a chance to grow old.
“The life sentence for their loved ones still continues.
“Life should mean life if you murder a police officer in the course of their duties – Roberts should never have been freed.”
Roberts never publicly expressed any remorse for the shootings of the three unarmed officers in Braybrook Street, Shepherd’s Bush, West London, on 12 August 1966.
Roberts and two others, John Duddy and John Witney, were in a Standard Vanguard scouting for a car to steal to use in a robbery.
The officers were in an unmarked Triumph police car with the call sign Foxtrot One One when they spotted the trio in their van.
Roberts spent 48 years behind bars for the killingsCredit: Bav Media
Roberts went on the run and hid out for three months in Epping Forest
Det Con Wombwell, 25, was shot in the left eye by Roberts as he peered into the van and Sgt Head, 30, was blasted in the back by him.
PC Fox, 41, was behind the wheel of the unmarked Triumph and was shot three times through the windscreen by Duddy.
Former soldier Roberts went on the run and used his military training to hide out for three months in Epping Forest.
He was eventually caught while sleeping rough in a disused airfield hangar near Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire.
Capital punishment had been suspended the previous year and Roberts was jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 30 years.
The judge described the cold-blooded execution of the officers as “the most heinous crime of a generation” and said it was unlikely any Home Secretary would ever free Roberts.
His accomplice Duddy died in the hospital at Parkhurst Prison in February 1981.
Witney, released on licence in 1991, was bludgeoned to death eight years later by his heroin addict flatmate in Bristol.
Roberts was continually denied parole amid suspicion he was still involved in crime and associating with other notorious criminals.
He is also said to have threatened the owners of an animal sanctuary where he worked on day release.
Relatives had campaigned to keep Roberts behind bars.
David Wombwell”s mother, Daphne van der Scoot, said: “Roberts is an evil man and has been all his life.
“I wish he had been hanged. David was my only child, and his murder devastated me. It was as if a blanket came down on my life.”
Roberts himself said in a rare interview behind bars: “Of course I regret what happened and I wish I could turn the clock back, but I can”t.
“It”s something that happened in a few seconds, but has changed so many people’s lives.”
Roberts was eventually released on 11 November 2014 to the dismay of his victims’ families.
He rubbed salt into their wounds by cashing in on his notoriety, selling signed photos through a crime memorabilia website.
Roberts also made twisted jokes about the murders of the officers, referring to the August 12 day of the massacre as the “glorious 12th” and start of the hunting season.
Former Flying Squad commander John O’ Connor said: “Nobody in the Met at the time will ever forget what happened.”
Roberts was convicted for the 1966 murders of Sgt Christopher Head, Det Con David Wombwell and PC Geoffrey Fox.Credit: PA:Press Association
