The ringleader of a plot to steal diamonds from the Millennium Dome will get legal aid to sue the police.

William Cockram and three other men tried to snatch £200m worth of diamonds from the site in Greenwich, south east London in November 2000.

 

Cockram has now issued a writ against the Metropolitan Police, saying he was assaulted by officers during the raid.

 

Cockram, from Catford, south east London, was jailed for 18 years in 2002 for the attempted robbery.

 

In a statement, the Legal Services Commission said: "We cannot differentiate between applicants for legal aid on the grounds that a decision to grant funding may be unpopular in a particular case."

 

Russian mafia

 

The Flying Squad mounted its biggest ever operation in history when foiling the plot.

 

More than 100 armed officers lay in wait as the gang ram-raided their way into the Thames-side tourist attraction on a JCB earthmover.

 

The raiders, armed with sledgehammers, a nail gun, ammonia and smoke grenades, were caught by armed police inches away from seizing jewels from the De Beers diamond exhibition vault.

 

Officers were lying in wait because they had feared a major robbery was being planned and the Dome was under surveillance as a potential target.

 

Police believed there was already a potential buyer lined up for the real diamonds, possibly arranged through the Russian Mafia. One theory was that the Millennium Star was wanted by an Arab collector.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6203731.stm

This makes me so mad! :angry: I couldn't get legal aid when I needed it as I apparently earned too much, so why should he get it for injuries sustained when he was breaking the law. its completely ridiculous!

But you got to remember, he has human rights...

 

...sorry, but I'm one of the supporters of ripping that pile of shite called the "human rights act" up and re-writing it to make it more common sense. Prisoners should NOT have the same rights as normal people.

. Prisoners should NOT have the same rights as normal people.

 

Exactly!! There should be a disclaimer at the end of the human rights act. It would read something like " Any person who commits an illegal act, and is caught doing so, waives all rights to make a complaint about their rights". Obviously it would need to be more complicated that that because of all the loopholes.