Long-lost prison documents have revealed the Kray twins' 'love-hate' relationship and the 'traumatic' effect their forced separation had on them.
The notorious brothers were kept apart, but the pair were still allowed to see each, with Reggie being allowed to visit Broadmoor, where Ronnie was moved to in 1979 and would remain until his death in 1995.
According to The Mirror, the recently-recovered documents show that these visits wouldn't be chatty catch-ups for the brothers.
Credit: PA
Advert
One prison officer wrote about Reggie: "His relationship with his brother was of a curious love-hate nature. Sometimes on his regular visits to see his brother in Broadmoor they exchanged hardly a word."
The records also note that the brothers were nicknamed 'the Godfathers' by other prisoners who both 'worshipped and feared' the pair.
Medical notes dating from 1982 reveal that staff were surprised in the change in Reggie's appearance, noting that he had gone from a 'lively humorous East Ender', to 'sallow, drawn, looking very worried and concerned, had lost his confidence and was clearly upset.'
The negative impact in Reggie's appearance and personality is believed to have come from the forced separation of the brothers. When he was 64, Reggie poured his heart out to a prisoner officer who wrote to the parole board on his behalf asking for his release.
The report stated: "I know much of the escalating violence by the Kray twins has been laid at the feet of Ronald Kray.
Credit: Caters
Advert
"Reginald Kray has always refuted this and I have no evidence to dispute the fact that each was as culpable as the other."
He went on: "Until his separation from his brother, Mr Kray's identity had been inextricably linked to his twin.
"There is much anecdotal evidence of communication between the Kray twins being almost telepathic. Mr Kray does not go so far himself but certainly gives an account of a very intense and close relationship with his brother.
"I have not time to consider the voluminous research of the phenomenon of twins but believe there would be an expectation that an enforced separation would be traumatic.
"The fact that Reg Kray was one of two Kray twins, both very violent young men, meant that both became together, greater than the sum of each individually.
"Changes to Mr Kray's attitude and reappraisal of his values have been the result of a long process.
"If nothing else, Mr Kray has had plenty of time to think over the past 30 years."
He was finally released from prison in August 2000 because of his ill health, and died two months later after a battle with cancer. He was 66.
Advert
Sources: The Mirror
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Prison