A woman who evaded justice for three decades after a string of armed robberies has been jailed, prompting renewed praise for the UK's ability to bring fugitives to book. Janet Hunter, 64, was extradited from the United States last year after her fingerprints were matched to a 1992 crime scene. On Friday, she was sentenced to eight years at Inner London Crown Court for her role in a series of thefts that netted over £2 million.
The case began in 1993 when Hunter fled to New York, using a false identity to start a new life. For years, she worked as a waitress and lived quietly, believing her past was buried. But a routine arrest for a minor traffic violation in 2022 flagged her prints, leading to a transatlantic extradition that took just five months.
Prosecutors said Hunter was the getaway driver for a gang that targeted security vans and bank couriers across the South East between 1991 and 1993. Victims included a security guard who was pistol-whipped during a raid in Kent. The gang used stolen vehicles and balaclavas, often striking during rush hour to melt into crowds.
Judge Susan Williams said the sentence reflected the severity of the crimes and the decade of fear inflicted. “You lived a comfortable life while your victims carried trauma,” she said. “The public must know that no matter how long you run, the law has a long reach.”
Hunter's capture has been hailed by the National Crime Agency as a triumph for international cooperation. Detective Superintendent Jane Collins said the case showed “dogged determination” from officers who refused to close the file. “We never gave up hope,” she said. “Each year we revisited the evidence, and eventually technology caught up.”
The extradition process was smooth, with US authorities quickly approving the request. Legal experts say this reflects the strong post-Brexit ties between British and American law enforcement, though critics warn such cooperation is not always guaranteed. Labour MP and former Home Office minister Diana Phillips said the case justified the UK's investment in biometric databases and global policing treaties.
For the victims, the verdict brings a form of closure. One retired security guard, who asked not to be named, said he had long resigned himself to never seeing justice. “I moved on with my life, but there was always a shadow,” he said. “Now I feel the book is shut.”
Hunter's sentence is a reminder that for all the fears about UK policing cuts, the system can still deliver when it comes to serious crime. But it also raises questions about how many other fugitives remain hidden, living under false names. The NCA's cold case unit currently has over 200 unresolved cases dating back to the 1980s.
In the dock, Hunter showed no emotion as the sentence was read. Her lawyer said she had expressed remorse in private and understood the harm caused. But the judge noted that she had never voluntarily returned or attempted to reimburse companies that were left bankrupt after the robberies.
As Hunter begins her eight-year term, the message from the courts is clear: time does not heal all wounds, and it does not erase criminal responsibility. For those watching from the shadows, the net is tightening.
