A brutal armed-robber, known as the “skull-cracker”, has won a cut to his minimum jail term for a raid committed while he was on the run.

Michael Wheatley, 55, was the target of a national manhunt when he raided a Surrey building society, having failed to return to Standford Hill open prison while on day release.

The thug was hit with a life sentence at Guildford Crown Court in May, after he admitted robbery, possessing an imitation firearm and being unlawfully at large.

He was ordered to serve a minimum of 10 years behind bars before his release would even be considered.

“This was a very serious offence and the fact that it occurred while he was on day release must clearly be a matter of public concern. We think that Wheatley will have to spend a very considerable period in prison before he will be near persuading the parole board that he will be safe to be released” - Mr Justice Cranston

Last week, three senior judges at London’s Appeal Court allowed his challenge against that minimum term – cutting it to eight years.

They warned, however, that he would have to spend “a very considerable period” behind bars before the Parole Board will even consider his release.

Wheatley, of no fixed abode, was serving a life sentences for a series of horrific stick-ups in which he battered victims with an imitation weapon.

Mr Justice Cranston said that while on the run, he robbed the Chelsea Building Society in Sunbury on May 7, snatching £18,350.

Wheatley, who had raided the same branch 13 years before, had gone on the run on May 3.

He entered the building society and spoke with the manager about opening a new account.

But as he was about to leave during a second visit, he said, “one more thing”, before producing an imitation gun and pointing it at the manager’s head.

He led the manager through a security door and pointed the replica weapon at a female cashier before making off with the cash.

After a highly-publicised manhunt, Wheatley was caught by armed police in Tower Hamlets, East London, later that day, having been at large for five days.

All but £850 of his swag was recovered, said the appeal judge.

Wheatley was serving a life sentence, imposed in 2002 for numerous raid on banks and building societies, when he absconded.

His day release was met with disgust by politicians and the public after it emerged he had committed other raids whilst previously on the run.

He had 22 previous convictions for robbery, with two more for attempted robbery and 18 connected firearm offences.

The violent, serial offender earned his grim nickname by “pistol-whipping” victims - including an elderly woman - with a replica weapon during his numerous hold-ups.

On jailing him again in May, Judge Christopher Critchlow said the public “must be protected” from the dangerous criminal for “a long time”.

But his solicitor advocate, Lionel Blackman, said today that Wheatley had “not killed” or “seriously maimed” and there must still be a “flicker of hope” he will stop offending.

Wearing a grey Adidas sweater, Wheatley watched from Long Lartin Prison, Worcestershire, via a video link as the judges considered his appeal.

Shaven-headed Wheatley, wearing glasses and sporting a beard, made notes as his barrister put his case.

Mr Justice Cranston, sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Knowles, agreed that his minimum term should be cut.

However, he emphasised that the new eight-year term is only a minimum and Wheatley may well spend longer behind bars.

“This was a very serious offence and the fact that it occurred while he was on day release must clearly be a matter of public concern. We think that Wheatley will have to spend a very considerable period in prison before he will be near persuading the parole board that he will be safe to be released.”

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