Notorious triple police killer Harry Roberts has died aged 89.
Roberts died in the hospital last Saturday after battling a short illness, according to the Sun.
His death comes 11 years after being freed, having been jailed for shooting dead three unarmed police officers in Shepherd’s Bush in west London in 1966.
He was released on licence from Littlehey Prison, Cambridgeshire, in November 2014, and remained under the supervision of the probation service.
Following his controversial release from HMP Littlehey, Roberts lived in sheltered accommodation in Peterborough.
On August 12, 1966, Shepherd’s Bush CID officers PC Wombwell, PC Fox, 41, and DS Head were on patrol near Wormwood Scrubs prison when they spotted a van on Braybrook Street.
Roberts opened fire on the officers when they approached a van he was in with two others ahead of an armed robbery.
Inside the van with Roberts were his accomplices John Duddy and John Witney, who were also preparing to carry out an armed robbery.
Notorious triple police killer Harry Roberts (pictured) has died aged 89
His death comes 11 years after being freed, having been jailed for shooting dead Sgt Christopher Head, Det Con David Wombwell and PC Geoffrey Fox in 1966
Pictured: Roberts (right) in August 2009 with a prison guard in Huntingdon, Cambs
When the unarmed officers approached, Roberts opened fire with a Luger pistol.
Roberts shot at the policemen in Braybrook Street while children were playing nearby.
He killed Det Con Wombell and chased and shot Sergeant Head.
One of his accomplices then shot Geoffrey Fox.
Duddy and Witney were soon caught but Roberts remained on the run for nearly 100 days, sparking Scotland Yard’s biggest ever manhunt.
He relied on his training as a soldier to survive and was eventually found near Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, living in a camouflaged den made out of plastic bags and branches.
On November 15, 1966, Roberts was given three life sentences with a 30-year minimum tariff.
His two accomplices both died more than 25 years ago.
Duddy died in Parkhurst prison in 1981 and Witney was released in 1991 but was beaten to death with a hammer by his flatmate in Bristol in 1999.
At his trial, Old Bailey judge Mr Justice Glyn-Jones jailed Roberts for a minimum of 30 years for what he called the ‘most heinous crime for a generation or more’.
The triple killer was eventually released in 2014 and had since enjoyed a life of relative normality.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.