Dubbed as ‘The Big Cheese’ for his criminal expertise, Keith Cheeseman seems to look back on his gangster history with a sense of pride rather than regret – recalling encounters with notable figures such as The Krays and football icon George Best. He highlights socializing with Morecambe and Wise as part of his past experiences. Cheeseman made headlines as the sole perpetrator of the largest bank heist in British history, involving the theft of bearer bonds valued at £850 million in today’s currency back in 1990.
Now aged 83 and enjoying retirement in the Turkish Riviera, Cheeseman, who served a six-and-a-half-year sentence for the heist, is featured in a documentary titled Heist: Robbing the Bank of England on Crime+Investigation, alongside Marcel Theroux. Described as ‘The biggest bank heist no one has heard of,’ the 1990 robbery left Theroux astounded by its scale and the lack of prior awareness surrounding it.
Reflecting on his past in the early 1970s, Cheeseman reminisces about driving a Lamborghini, indulging in Montecristo cigars, and mingling with glamour models and celebrities – a far cry from his humble beginnings in Luton, Bedfordshire. Despite his incarceration for the bank heist, Cheeseman humorously admits to still garnering attention, especially in Turkey, where his colorful past intrigues locals.
Not one to back down from challenges, Cheeseman’s failed trial as a striker for Dunstable Town led him to purchase the club instead. His association with soccer legend George Best and the subsequent scrutiny he faced for owning a Lamborghini due to questionable financial practices landed him in legal trouble once more, resulting in a six-year imprisonment, though he was released early for good behavior.
Before delving into the world of crime, Cheeseman ran a successful building company that he claims was ruined by the banking system’s actions in the early 1970s. Fueled by a sense of rebellion, he began targeting banks as a form of retaliation against what he perceived as unfair practices. His disdain for banks stemmed from his personal experiences and his interactions with numerous bank managers through his involvement with Dunstable FC.
During his time at Parkhurst Prison following the 1990 robbery, Cheeseman crossed paths with infamous criminals like the Krays and the Richardson brothers. Despite these encounters, Cheeseman distinguishes himself from traditional gangsters, preferring negotiation over violence and maintaining a lifestyle of luxury and influence. His anecdotes shed light on the complexities of his criminal past and the unconventional relationships he formed within the criminal underworld.
Heist: Robbing the Bank of England premieres on Monday, 3rd November, on Crime+Investigation.
