The Bristol pensioner held in a South African jail after being wrongly identified as one of the FBI’s “most wanted” list of criminals has given his first full interview to his local newspaper.
Derek Bond, who made international headlines after being held in a Durban prison for three weeks, spoke to reporter Chris Allen, of Bristol’s Evening Post, after spurning offers of £200,000 from the nationals and television companies.
Allen, who joined the Post from the Peterborough Evening Telegraph four months ago, was among the press pack that doorstepped Bond when he returned to Bristol after his ordeal.
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Once the pack had gone, Allen persisted in his attempt to get the interview.
He said: “I went back two days later and had a chat with his wife. They got back in touch and told me he was prepared to do the interview and we spoke for two hours at his home.”
Another factor that clinched the interview, Allen said, was the fact that the 72-year-old grandfather is a staunch supporter of the Rotary Club charity. “He was impressed with our coverage of the Rotary and that was part of the reason he decided to speak to me.”
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By Jon Slattery
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