Who is Linda Calvey? | The Sun
LINDA CALVEY became one of London's most feared female criminals when she was sentenced to life in prison for murder.
But who is London's most notorious female gangster, Linda Calvey?
Who is Linda Calvey?
Calvey, now aged 74, was a feared criminal during the 1980s and early 1990s.
She grew up in East London, where she explained criminal activity was not uncommon, however she managed to avoid it until her twenties.
The 74-year-old first got involved in crime after marrying her first husband, Mickey Calvey, at age 22.
She met him just after he had been released from prison, having served eight years for armed robbery.
After, she became involved with her husband's "work" and began assisting him and his friends with their crimes.
At first, Calvey was just her husband's getaway driver, but then she eventually started wielding guns herself during the robberies.
The east Londoner later became widely known as the "Black Widow" because her lovers either ended up dead or in prison.
What is Linda Calvey known for?
Calvey was first convicted of a crime in 1986, where she was sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery.
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She had been part of a criminal gang, in which she had assisted in a series of post office robberies.
During the robberies, Calvey and the other gang members sprayed customers and staff with ammonia.
During sentencing, the judge commented on the case: "This is an amazingly horrifying case. It must be the worst case ever heard in front of a British court. These robberies were carefully planned and organised, they were skilfully, effectively and ruthlessly carried out."
The ex convict only served half her sentence and was released in 1989.
After Calvey was first released from prison, it was not long before she was back inside again - this time, for murder.
Just 18 months after being paroled for her armed robbery sentence, Calvey paid criminal associate, Daniel Reece, £10,000 to kill her lover, Ronnie Cook.
However, Reece did not go through with the crime, prompting Calvey, herself, to shoot Cook.
The "Black Widow" shot her lover twice.
Despite pleading innocent at her trial, Calvey's footprints were found next to the victim's body and the jury found her guilty of murder.
Charles Bronson, who is considered Britain's most violent criminal, wrote a tribute to Calvey in 1995, saying that she was "a true lady, a real east London girl".
How long did Linda Calvey serve in prison?
For some time, Calvey was Britain's longest-serving female prisoner.
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She spent three and a half years in prison for armed robbery and then a further 18 and a half years for murdering her lover, Ronnie Cook.
The "Black Widow" was sentenced to life in prison in 1991 and was not released on parole until 2008.
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