Murderer Lance Rudge: 'I've got it nice in my cell'
JAILED murderer Lance Rudge is enjoying prison life – because he has a television, stereo and three meals a day.
The 24-year-old says he 'has it nice' behind bars because he does not need to get a job.
The Stoke City fan, of Meir, will not be released until at least 2025 after murdering disabled Gregory Baker at his Alton home in 2007.
His views will feature in a Channel 4 documentary looking at the lives of prisoners serving life sentences in Gartree Prison, Leicestershire, at 9pm on Monday night.
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The former detective who investigated the murder today condemned Rudge's attitude.
Appearing in his cell in a Stoke City shirt, Rudge tells viewers: "In here you've got everything. You've got a stereo, a TV. You've got your food, three meals a day.
"I've got it nice. I don't want it to change."
When asked what he thinks life is like outside, he says: "Horrible. A nightmare to get a job. I wouldn't like to be out there at all now. I'd prefer to stay inside for a while, and wait until it calms down."
Rudge was convicted of murder along with his mother Yvonne Purchase, of Meir, and friend Shane Edge, of Longton, four years ago.
Purchase planned the 2007 killing in order to collect the £60,000 Mr Baker had left her in his will.
Rudge was prompted by his mother to recruit Edge, who suffocated the 61-year-old in his cottage. All three were handed life sentences, with Rudge ordered to serve at least 18 years.
In the documentary, Rudge says he tried to attack his mother during the trial, after she attempted to blame the murder on him. But he tells the interviewer that being on trial for murder had been 'boring'.
Rudge said: "I fell asleep five times. It wasn't really the best impression to make but I couldn't help it. When I got sentenced I almost collapsed. But now I don't even think about it. Time flies by."
Former police detective Ken Raper, who investigated the case, said he was 'saddened' by the comments.
The Staffordshire University lecturer said: "Rudge's words show there is no honour or loyalty among these people and just how little thought they give to others. He appears to show no remorse for his actions."
Alton Parish Councillor Tony Moult, who knew Mr Baker, said: "Rudge is lucky, as if he had been tried before the 1960s he might have been hanged for it.
"It seems that prison is like a holiday camp. It is terrible for Gregory's family for it all to be raked up again."
A Channel 4 spokesman said: "Lifers provides insight into the everyday realities of long-term imprisonment and the rehabilitative efforts of the prison's authorities."
Comments
by BECKIEBOO16
Friday, June 29 2012, 2:24PM
“I actually watched this with a sickened feeling in my stomach. He actually gloated that he was in this 'comfortable' position and was really enjoying it. There was no joy for the poor pensioner who was strangled. It makes me sick to my stomach to watch idiots like this even get screening time.”
by Anon_mow_cop
Friday, June 29 2012, 12:58PM
“Reading the posts on a return to capital punishment,I can only think that hanging had actually killed itself off even before Parliment voted to do so.With the infamous cases of Derek Bentley and Ruth Ellis it had dug it's own grave. Being old enough to remember Roy Jenkins as Home Secretary and Chancellor, I thought him a very good politican.As Home Sec he could see which way the wind was blowing on the subject of capital punishment and had the courage to bring it to Parliment to be voted upon, and Parliment in all it's pluralality voted to abolish it. That's called democracy.”
by stokeygirl123
Friday, June 29 2012, 12:25PM
“What a tool!”
by soapbox32
Thursday, June 28 2012, 3:23PM
“His voice made me cringe...similar to that of nails scrapping down a blackboard!!! Typical dumb stokie!!!
"im going to stay inside, till it calms down a bit"
Didnt he realise he has no say in that matter, hes in JAIL!!! Hopefully for a very long time...”
by SNOWY13
Thursday, June 28 2012, 2:08PM
“i think they should make them do hard labour in chain gangs, like in america, that would save the tax payer a lot of money. let the prisons pay for themselves, there would also be a lot less pot holes in the roads if we got them working on them for free, let them PAY there debt to society by working not sitting on there ****s playing xbox all day.”
by Tabazan
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 8:44PM
“@Jobeeone
You said;
"Isn't humanity and the nature of life itself too complicated for a one size fits all system?"
Absolutely correct Jobeeone; life is very rarely black and white enough for a 'one size fits all' system to work properly, and in an ideal world much more attention would be paid to the countless shades of grey that occupy the gulf between those two extremes. The problem is that, with specific reference to our justice system, judging everyone and everything on their relative merits takes time and ultimately money, and those two words are the metaphorical equivalent of kryptonite to an incumbent government.”
by Jobeeone
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 6:41PM
“One of the lifers on the 'show' (lets not dress it up, it was pure entertainment for the moral masses) said that he doesn't know why he killed and has the potential to kill again. What do we do with that? Penance is for catholics not psychopaths.
Isn't humanity and the nature of life itself too complicated for a one size fits all system?
And no-one has considered the poor prison guards who would have to implement bread and water regimes to people who have no sense of our version of reality.
As a victim of heiniuos crime I could say let em swing. But it really is always more complicated than that. Isn't it?”
by Tabazan
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 5:56PM
“@Alberus
You said;
"He's lost his FREEDOM. Is anyone aware what this really means? Think about it. If anyone think there is something cushy or desirable about THAT, maybe you should reaxamine your values?"
Well it would appear that Rudge thinks that having his freedom taken away is 'cushy';
"I've got it nice. I don't want it to change."
And therein lies the problem with people like Rudge. Deprivation of freedom means plenty to decent people Alberus, but it's concept that's wasted on the likes of this character.”
by rosieno1
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 5:49PM
“I watched the program on tv and the lifers on it seemed to think they were in some sort of hotel,they didnt look as if they felt they were being punished at all LOL. if you take a life you should serve a full life term and never be let out of jail!! scum bags the lot of em”
by Alberus
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 5:10PM
“HELLO? He's lost his FREEDOM. Is anyone aware what this really means? Think about it. If anyone think there is something cushy or desirable about THAT, maybe you should reaxamine your values?”