Robert Hendy-Freegard contacts local paper to tell his side

We’re talking about the actual ‘Puppet Master’, Robert Hendy-Freegard, made famous by a Netflix documentary released last month about his criminal past.

It was revealed last month that Freegard was living in Reading, and thousands of readers wanted to find out why.

The story I published titled 'Robert Hendy-Freegard, The Puppet Master, tracked down in Berkshire' gained traction and was read by 55,148 of you, with the secondary article reaching 32,849 readers as well.

On Monday, January 23, my editor received a mysterious phone call from a man who didn’t want to share his name at first.

A couple of minutes into the phone call the man surreptitiously reveals himself as Mr Hendy-Freegard, explaining that he’d like to share his side of the story.

Photo by Netflix

He claimed Netflix’s true crime docuseries The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman didn’t portray his relationship with Sandra Clifton accurately.

READ MORE: Robert Hendy-Freegard, The Puppet Master, tracked down in Berkshire

Mr Hendy-Freegard was found guilty of two counts of kidnapping, 10 of theft and eight of deception in 2005 and handed a life sentence.

He appealed his kidnap convictions in 2007 and won. His life sentence was revoked and he was released after nine years. 

In the three-part documentary, Ms Clifton’s children Jake and Sophie believe their mother is being coercively controlled by Mr Hendy-Freegard and hope to reunite with her. Sandra disappeared from the children in 2014. 

He denies these claims. 

In the show, she says: “Mum, if you are watching this, you should know that no matter what happens we will always be there for you.”

ALSO READ: Robert Hendy Freegard: Where is he now and how did he end up in Berkshire

Mr Hendy-Freegard explained to my editor that he’d like to ‘put things straight’ asking if he could visit the office in Reading so he could speak to a journalist in person.

Where Robert Hendy-Freegard was suppose to visit. Image via Google Maps

It was arranged for Robert-Hendy to visit the Reading Chronicle office the following day on Tuesday, January 24.

My heart thumped when my editor broke the news to me. I couldn’t believe that an actual ex-convict who “controlled, conned and fleeced at least seven women and one man” was willing to speak to me...

The man had led people to believe he was a spy working for MI5 and convinced his victims they were IRA targets. The man was described in the show as “dangerous”. This was a HUGE deal for me and an incredible opportunity in any journalist’s career.

I carefully jotted down some questions I wanted to ask Robert-Hendy, one being whether he has tried to reach out to his victims at all.

Sandra's daughter has her say in the Netflix documentary (Credit: Netflix)

Following on from the show, thousands of people worldwide have expressed concern for Sandra’s safety. Here was a man who had all the answers and I was about to get the opportunity to ask him.

‘Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?’, ‘Do you think you’re a changed man’ - these were all questions I was itching to put to this mysterious and now infamous person.

The clock ticks and it’s 3pm, ‘Only an hour until Robert arrives’ I think to myself.
After what felt like a day of waiting and half an hour before our appointment, Mr Hendy-Freegard decides to cancel. We got totally stood up and it was disappointing. A flurry of calls and texts follow in the days after but Mr Hendy-Freegard would not settle on a time to talk. 

I have so many burning questions that need answering and it would have been eye-opening to hear what he had to say.

Then again, what did I expect from someone whose web of lies and deceit found him at the centre of a Netflix crime documentary?

With many questions that remain unanswered, our invitation remains open to Mr Hendy-Freegard as does his right to reply. 

Anyone with information is welcome to contact news@readingchronicle.co.uk