Hatton Garden Raider: 'I Want To Make Amends'

Confessed Hatton Garden raider Danny Jones says he didn't show police where to find his hidden loot to get a reduction in his sentence.

He said he did it because he wants to go straight.

He wrote to me in a letter from his prison cell: "Knowing I'm going to prison for a long time all I want to do is let my two sons no (know) I'm trying to change for the best.

"I no (know) I've done wrong. I'm not crying Martin, I did it. I can't talk for other people, only for myself and whatever I get on judgement day I will stand tall, but I want to make amends to all my loved ones and show I'm trying to change.

"I no (know) it seems a bit late in my life, but I'm trying."

Last week police took Jones from his cell at Belmarsh prison to Edmonton cemetery in North London where he had buried his share of the proceeds.

It was hidden beneath a bank of plaques marking buried ashes.

Police spent more than four hours digging and retrieving three bags of stolen property.

The family of the deceased are thought to be unaware of the excavation.

Police waited more than three months to take up Jones's offer to lead them to the loot. They acted only after Sky News revealed the delay.

Jones, 58, is one of four men who have pleaded guilty to the £20m burglary of the Hatton Garden safe deposit centre over the Easter weekend.

Five others have pleaded not guilty and are to stand trial in November.

The maximum sentence is 10 years in prison and the judge can reduce any sentence he gives Jones by up to one third for his early guilty plea.

But the judge could also make a confiscation order for the total value of the haul against each of those convicted, with more years in jail in default of payment.

According to Jones' lawyer, Mark Davies, of Shepherd Harris and Co, giving back his share of the loot would have little impact on any extra sentence.

Mr Davies said: "It's ultimately a matter for the judge, but he can't go beyond a reduction of a third, so the return of his share is likely to have a minimum or no effect on his sentence."

Police originally said the gang got away with a £10m haul, but then revised that to £20m.

The case prosecutor also revealed recently that there were still "many millions" missing.