Over the Edge

The business seemed to operate a lot more smoothly without Ronnie's interference. The problem with the Kray 'Firm' as it came to be known was that there wasn't one Boss. Ron and Reg argued constantly about what they were doing and how they handled the proceeds. Ronnie, being the dominant twin usually won the arguements , sometimes at a cost to the business.

Although Ronnie could be vicious and unforgiving, there was another side to his nature. He would always help people down on their luck. He was regarded as a soft touch for those in real need, especially people coming out of prison. He would open up the till in one of their clubs and take out what ever was in there and give it to some deserving cause. Although very commendable, it was not good for business. This caused constant rows with his brothers, but Ronnie didn't care, they needed it and he gave it to them. The thing about Ronnie was that once he had his mind made up to do something , he would it, good or bad , regardless of the consequences. It was probably this part of his personality, coupled with his oncoming schizophrenic tendencies that made the Krays as feared as they were.

So when Ronnie was imprisoned it was inevitable that it would reflect favourably in their business dealings.

Ron first went to Wandsworth prison, then he was transferred to Camp Hill prison. While inside his favourite aunt Rose died. This seemed to tip him over the edge. He was sent to the psychiatric wing of Winchester prison where he was declared insane.

He was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. His health slowly deteriorated . Reggie put this down to the different drugs they were giving Ron and decided to get him out of prison. As luck would have it they moved Ron to Long Grove mental hospital giving them a better chance of freeing him. The idea was to get Ron out and keep him out long enough for an independent psychiatrist to assess his state of mind. If the doctor found him to be sane then the authorities would have to re-assess him when he was captured or returned to the hospital.

Reggie visited Ron and simply changed places with him. Ron walked out of the hospital and away. Reg sat reading a paper and then asked where Reg had gone because he was away so long. The hospital orderlies assumed that the man sitting in the chair was Ron. When thy realised what had happened it was too late. Ron had long gone. And they had to let Reg out as well!

He remained on the run for five months.

It wasn't too long before they realised what a dreadful mistake they had made. Ronnie really was ill. There were times when he didn't recognise Reg or his parents. He believed that these people in front of him were imposters.

He had to be returned to hospital for his own sake. One night when he secretly returned to Vallance Road, the police raided the house and he was arrested.

He was re-assessed and returned to prison where he remained until his release in May 1959.

When he came out in 1959 he had terrible mood swings and it was clear that he was still ill. He was uncontrollable, he would rant and rave, pace up and down, and thought that everyone was plotting against him. The family took him to hospital to get him the help he so desperately needed. Part of this help meant that he would have to take drugs and injections for the rest of his life.

He not only had a mental Illness but the treatment that was to keep him calm and subdued affected him physically. He put on weight, his speech was slow and he walked laboriously. He was not the man he used to be. Although there were times when Ron looked and felt like his old self, what had gone before was just a taste of things to come.

Unfortunately for Ron, Reggie was arrested in 1959 for demanding money with menaces. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison even though the victim retracted the allegation under oath. He was sent to Wandsworth where he first met Jack the Hat McVitie and The Mad Axeman Frank Mitchell, two men who were to play a major part , although posthumously, in their eventual downfall.