I noticed in the news this week that Ian John Steele has been extradited from England back to New South Wales to face some very serious charges, including an amazing escape from Long Bay Gaol.
Steele, also known as “Peter Rabbit” by his criminal cohorts, is a very dangerous and cunning criminal. He escaped from the Long Bay Prison Complex and made his way to England where he continued his violent criminal activities.
In 1990 he received a life sentence for murder plus 21 years for 15 armed robberies. He was extradited last week after serving 27 years in maximum security in Her Majesty’s Gaol in England.
The following is an extract from my latest book “Australia’s Best Prison Stories”.
Prison Officer Paul Lefoe
From day one I knew Paul Lefoe was going to be a well above average prison officer. In the 1970s it was rare for a prison officer to have carried on with his school education past the age of 15. The educational requirement for entry into the Department of Corrective Services was the School Certificate or the previous equivalent being the Intermediate Certificate, or in some cases even less depending on the circumstances. Paul had completed his School Certificate in 1973 and his Higher School Certificate in 1975 at Granville South High School. In my opinion, those extra two years at high school make a great deal of difference to an individual’s formal education. Following the completion of his schooling, he embarked on a career in customer service and sales, ultimately becoming a branch manager of a major company.
On 6th August 1979 Mr Lefoe commenced duty as a Probationary Prison Officer. He was a very fast learner and earned the trust and respect of his senior officers.
About 11.00 hours on 28th November 1982, four very dangerous prisoners attempted to escape the Long Bay Prison complex. They were led by Gregory Norman McHardie, (the Woolworth’s bomber), and included Ian John Steele, Wayne Garry Le Petit and Barry Charles King. They had plaited sheets together to use as a rope and had used a weighted pillow case to throw over the wall.
As the four prisoners were attempting their desperate endeavours to escape, they were sighted by Prison Officer Terence Sullivan who was doing tower duty and he fired a warning shot and shouted to the prisoners, “Drop them or I’ll put one through you”. At the same time Mr Lefoe had witnessed the incident unfold and quickly ran to block the access of the prisoners back into the main part of the gaol.
As the would be escapees approached a chain wire fence and gate, Mr Lefoe, without any thought to self-preservation and with his mind totally fixed on the job at hand, tried desperately to put the lock onto the gate. McHardie had wrapped his arm around the bolt preventing Mr Lefoe from securing the lock in place. An equal opponent to the task, Mr Lefoe gripped the locking device effectively preventing the prisoner’s entry. Steele began to abuse him and threatened his life while at the same time he picked up a long broom handle and began to savagely strike Mr Lefoe through the wire in a vain effort for him to loosen his grip. It was McHardie who was the first to let go allowing Mr Lefoe to place the lock on the gate as other officers started to arrive and subdue the four prisoners.
Mr Lefoe had held on valiantly while receiving a broken rib and several other injuries. He proved he was a razor in battle and an officer who could be relied upon in the most trying of conditions while in the face of certain danger.
He was recognised for his bravery and awarded “The Minister’s Citation for Bravery”. The front of the Citation reads, “For distinguished service to the people of New South Wales, Prison Officer Paul Lefoe in recognition of the bravery displayed in preventing the escape of dangerous prisoners, Malabar, 28th November 1982”.
Ian John Steele also known as “Peter Rabbit” was charged with the added charge of assaulting Mr Lefoe in addition to the attempted escape charges that all four prisoners had to answer. Steele was a very bad man. He was a convicted robber and a kidnapper.
He escaped a few months later on 17th February 1983 from Darlinghurst Court. He found his way to Perth Western Australia where he carried out at least four robberies before fleeing to Victoria. It was in Melbourne in 1984 that he was shot by “Super Cop” Detective Jimmy Venn in Swanston Street. Steel had fired a sawn off shot gun at Detective Venn and his partner Detective Paul “Fish” Mullett.
Super Cop Venn returned fire hitting Steele in the head and shoulders however Steele somehow survived. He received a sentence of 17 years with a 13 year non-parole period. After secretly shaving off his beard, he escaped from Long Bay Gaol by boldly wearing a prison officer’s hat and simply walked straight out of the gaol’s main gate on 17th January 1986.
To find out more about Ian John Steele, alias “Peter Rabbit”, you can purchase my book, Australia’s Best Prison Stories through Amazon.
Peter Egge
Steele, also known as “Peter Rabbit” by his criminal cohorts, is a very dangerous and cunning criminal. He escaped from the Long Bay Prison Complex and made his way to England where he continued his violent criminal activities. In 1990 he received a life sentence for murder plus 21 years for 15 armed robberies. He was extradited last week after serving 27 years in maximum security in Her Majesty’s Gaol in England.
The following is an extract from my latest book “Australia’s Best Prison Stories”.
Prison Officer Paul Lefoe
From day one I knew Paul Lefoe was going to be a well above average prison officer. In the 1970s it was rare for a prison officer to have carried on with his school education past the age of 15. The educational requirement for entry into the Department of Corrective Services was the School Certificate or the previous equivalent being the Intermediate Certificate, or in some cases even less depending on the circumstances. Paul had completed his School Certificate in 1973 and his Higher School Certificate in 1975 at Granville South High School. In my opinion, those extra two years at high school make a great deal of difference to an individual’s formal education. Following the completion of his schooling, he embarked on a career in customer service and sales, ultimately becoming a branch manager of a major company.
On 6th August 1979 Mr Lefoe commenced duty as a Probationary Prison Officer. He was a very fast learner and earned the trust and respect of his senior officers.
About 11.00 hours on 28th November 1982, four very dangerous prisoners attempted to escape the Long Bay Prison complex. They were led by Gregory Norman McHardie, (the Woolworth’s bomber), and included Ian John Steele, Wayne Garry Le Petit and Barry Charles King. They had plaited sheets together to use as a rope and had used a weighted pillow case to throw over the wall.
As the four prisoners were attempting their desperate endeavours to escape, they were sighted by Prison Officer Terence Sullivan who was doing tower duty and he fired a warning shot and shouted to the prisoners, “Drop them or I’ll put one through you”. At the same time Mr Lefoe had witnessed the incident unfold and quickly ran to block the access of the prisoners back into the main part of the gaol.
As the would be escapees approached a chain wire fence and gate, Mr Lefoe, without any thought to self-preservation and with his mind totally fixed on the job at hand, tried desperately to put the lock onto the gate. McHardie had wrapped his arm around the bolt preventing Mr Lefoe from securing the lock in place. An equal opponent to the task, Mr Lefoe gripped the locking device effectively preventing the prisoner’s entry. Steele began to abuse him and threatened his life while at the same time he picked up a long broom handle and began to savagely strike Mr Lefoe through the wire in a vain effort for him to loosen his grip. It was McHardie who was the first to let go allowing Mr Lefoe to place the lock on the gate as other officers started to arrive and subdue the four prisoners.
Mr Lefoe had held on valiantly while receiving a broken rib and several other injuries. He proved he was a razor in battle and an officer who could be relied upon in the most trying of conditions while in the face of certain danger.
He was recognised for his bravery and awarded “The Minister’s Citation for Bravery”. The front of the Citation reads, “For distinguished service to the people of New South Wales, Prison Officer Paul Lefoe in recognition of the bravery displayed in preventing the escape of dangerous prisoners, Malabar, 28th November 1982”.
Ian John Steele also known as “Peter Rabbit” was charged with the added charge of assaulting Mr Lefoe in addition to the attempted escape charges that all four prisoners had to answer. Steele was a very bad man. He was a convicted robber and a kidnapper.
He escaped a few months later on 17th February 1983 from Darlinghurst Court. He found his way to Perth Western Australia where he carried out at least four robberies before fleeing to Victoria. It was in Melbourne in 1984 that he was shot by “Super Cop” Detective Jimmy Venn in Swanston Street. Steel had fired a sawn off shot gun at Detective Venn and his partner Detective Paul “Fish” Mullett.
Super Cop Venn returned fire hitting Steele in the head and shoulders however Steele somehow survived. He received a sentence of 17 years with a 13 year non-parole period. After secretly shaving off his beard, he escaped from Long Bay Gaol by boldly wearing a prison officer’s hat and simply walked straight out of the gaol’s main gate on 17th January 1986.
To find out more about Ian John Steele, alias “Peter Rabbit”, you can purchase my book, Australia’s Best Prison Stories through Amazon.
Peter Egge
