Who is Lee Murray and where is he now? London Journal

LEE Murray is a former UFC fighter who orchestrated the infamous Securitas Depot heist and ended up behind bars.

The robbers got away with a whopping £53million — here we take a look at who Murray is and where he is now.

Who is Lee Murray?

Lee Brahim Murray-Lamrani, born on November 12, 1977, is an English-Moroccan former UFC fighter turned convicted bank robber.

Murray fought once in MMA‘s premier promotion nearly twenty years ago — locking horns with Jorge Rivera at UFC 43.

The Brit picked up his sole win in the octagon courtesy of a first-round triangle choke.

A few months later, Murray suffered a unanimous decision defeat to UFC legend and soon-to-be hall-of-famer Anderson Silva.

He also once turned up for an MMA fight dressed up as the notorious Hannibal Lecter.

The hardman was stabbed during a brawl at Towie star Lauren Pope‘s birthday party at Funky Buddha nightclub in 2005, seemingly ending his UFC career.

But Murray plans to open a gym once he’s out of prison, hopes to notch up another octagon appearance, and has even set his sights on winning the UFC title.

Where is Lee Murray now?

The February 2006 Securitas depot robbery in Tonbridge was the UK’s largest cash heist.

Murray is currently behind bars in Tifelt, northwestern Morocco.

Despite being incarcerated, he fathered a child from prison in 2010.

What did Lee Murray do?

The former middleweight and his partners in crime nabbed a whopping £53million from the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, Kent.

Beginning with the kidnapping of a bank manager on the evening of February 21, 2006, it ended in the early hours of February 22 with the seven criminals involved getting away with a fortune.

But Murray was arrested in Morocco four months later and was initially sentenced to ten years behind bars — although his conviction was later bumped up to 25 years.

Murray was convicted of the conspiracy along with his crew — Lea Rusha, Emir Hysenaj, Jetmir Bucpapa, Stuart Royle, Roger Coutts and Paul Allen — the last of whom narrowly survived being shot in the throat at the house comedian Russell Kane in 2019.

One way or another I need to win that UFC title. My story isn’t finished. This isn’t the end

Lee MurrayCatching Lightening, Showtime

When will Lee Murray be released from prison?

Murray was arrested at a shopping centre in Rabat, Morocco on June 25, 2006.

He was convicted in a Moroccan court in June 2010 and initially sentenced to 10 years, which was then extended to 25 years on November 30, 2010.

So, unless his sentence is reduced, Murray will not be released from prison until at least 2035.

What has Lee Murray said?

Murray, who went by the nickname ‘Lightening’ and was once dubbed “a scary son of a b***h” by UFC president Dana White, said has no regrets.

Speaking in the documentary Catching Lightning, which premiered on Showtime on April 7, 2023, Murray said: “If I could turn back the clock and change what I done I wouldn’t change what I done.

“I am who I am today and I’m happy how I am today.

“Back then I was a wild man. I didn’t think. I didn’t think right.

“I didn’t think ahead. I didn’t think of the future. The way I think now is totally different.”

Although he wouldn’t change his actions, Murray admits prison has given him a different perspective on life.

He said: “In prison, you get to see what’s important in life.

“In that time I’ve had my youngest son Lorenzo and also I’ve got my wife Nicola and I wouldn’t change them for the world.

“And as for my other children, you know I haven’t been there for them. You know I was just lying for the moment.

“I think me being in prison, I’m learning from my mistakes and I think that will benefit them when I am released and I can be with them. I’m sorry for what I’ve done.

“I’m sorry to the victims of the robbery. I hurt a lot of people.

“I hurt my own family as well. I’ve made them victims. I made a mistake.”