A burglar who was part of the infamous Hatton Garden heist was set free after officials “miscalculated” the length of his sentence.
Michael Seed, now 65, took part in the security box heist over the Easter bank holiday weekend in April 2015.
Seed, known as “Basil the Ghost”, and an elderly crew stole £13.6million in jewels and valuables from Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd.
He received nearly £5million for his role in the extraordinary raid – but was the last to be caught by police.
“Basil” was jailed for 10 years in March 2019, then was handed another six years in 2022 after repaying just £50,000 of his takings.
He was not due for release until June 2027.
But Seed was set free from HMP High Down in August last year after officials miscalculated the length of his sentence, The Sun revealed.
The thief from Islington spent six months on the loose before being returned to prison on February 5.
Michael Seed spent six months on the loose before being returned to prison on February 5
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PA
The Ministry of Justice confirmed he was “released in error” from the facility in Sutton, on August 12, 2025.
A spokesman for the department said: “A prisoner who was released in error from HMP High Down last August has been returned to custody.
“These cases have exposed deep-rooted issues across the broken justice system the Government inherited.
“We’re determined to bear down on these mistakes and keep the public safe, which is why we’ve introduced tougher new checks, launched an independent investigation into releases in error and are investing millions to modernise technology to replace archaic paper-based systems.”
The tunnel created by the burglars which they used to access the vault
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GETTY
The gang of six captured the public consciousness in 2015 – with Seed considered of its ringleaders.
The famous heist has been the subject of three films, including 2018’s King of Thieves, starring Michael Caine.
Burglars worked through the four-day weekend of the Easter and Passover Bank Holiday, when many of the nearby businesses were closed.
Seed knocked out the alarms, allowing his fellow burglars to enter the vault during the heist – and was one of two men who climbed into the vault through a hole drilled through a thick wall.
Smashed deposit boxes from the Hatton Garden heist
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GETTY
The “Diamond Wheezers” gang were said to have entered the premises, in the heart of London’s diamond district, through a lift shaft – then drilled through the 50cm thick vault walls with a Hilti power drill.
They were slapped with one of the biggest confiscation orders in Scotland Yard’s history.
Unlike the rest of the crew, who were captured in 2015, Seed managed to evade the police until March 28, 2018.
In a raid on his council flat after he failed to hand over his cash, police discovered gold bars, gems, and jewellery worth £143,000.
It was revealed during his trial that Seed had never paid taxes, claimed no benefits, and rarely used a bank account.