The Great Escapee

The war hero and master safecracker – who spent 40 years in jail and gave jailors the slip 5 TIMES – caught the nation’s attention with his extraordinary life story

- Jane Hamilton

In scottish folklore he’s the master safecracker who became a legend for his prison escapes.

The story of “Gentle” Johnny Ramensky has lived on for generations as tales of his extraordinary life became the subject of songs, books and movies.

After spending 40 of his 67 years in prison, Ramensky could easily have been written off as nothing more than a common criminal but his strong code of ethics, his daring feats during World War II and his charisma despite his criminal record have earned him in a place in the Scottish history books.

Even Peterhead Prison, where he famously spent many years, has created an exhibition in their museum to chart the different aspects of his life and career.

Gambling and safe blowing were in Ramensky’s blood and despite attempts to “go straight” he never quite succeeded.

It only added to his allure and he was something of a celebrity among all classes of society. His life of crime began quite unremarkably, at the age of 16, when the young Yonas Ramanauckas became fed up of no work and no money and turned to burglary. It wasn’t long before he was locked up in Polmont Young Offenders – or borstal as it was known then.

Without a father to guide him – his Lithuanian migrant dad died when he was eight – he learned how to blow dynamite and gelignite at the age of 14 after a stint down the mines in Lanarkshire and it wasn’t long before he moved on to picking locks and blowing open safes.