A fugitive prisoner who has been on the run for more than three weeks has appeared on a podcast, saying that being in prison was causing him “heartache”.
Greggor Gray, who has so far served a 17-year sentence for theft, escaped from HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire in mid-May.
While fleeing, Gray appeared in an episode of the Birmingham podcast The Chop Shop, which aired on Wednesday.
Speaking to the podcast hosts, Gray said: “Right now, you have a man talking to you on the run.
“I don’t hide from anyone, my name is Greggor Gray,” he said.
He added that he escaped from prison because of the “injustice and pain” he experienced being imprisoned, and added that he cried until he slept every night while in prison.
Gray’s initial sentence was reported to be four years, but he has remained in prison for serving a prison sentence for public protection (IPP).
The IPP ruling, which is described as an “indeterminate conviction for serious offenders”, means that offenders must meet a minimum deadline before they can apply for a parole board. However, the board would only approve the offender’s release if it believes the offender is “safe enough.”
Although the IPP ruling was issued in 2005, the policy was dropped in 2012, after being described as the “biggest stain” of the criminal justice system by a former Supreme Court judge. The decision was not enforced in retrospect, so those already subject to a PPI conviction continued to do so.
On May 21, BirminghamLive reported that Gray had called one of his reporters, saying that being in prison was driving him “crazy” and that he planned to return to prison before his next parole hearing on the 14th. June.
In a previous statement, Derbyshire police said: “We are seeking information after a convict escaped from HMP Sudbury.
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“Greggor Gray has been released from prison [on 15 May]it is known to use the aliases of Moses Blake, McGreggor Gray and Marcus Osbourne, and has links to the Leicester and Birmingham areas.
“Anyone who has seen or heard of his whereabouts is asked to contact Derbyshire Police at 688-150522.
“If you see Gray, please don’t go near him, but contact the police immediately.”