{"id":1009,"date":"2025-08-05T16:14:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T16:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mississaugaoffice.com\/?p=1009"},"modified":"2025-08-05T21:07:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T21:07:39","slug":"boxer-who-punched-princess-annes-kidnapper-wishes-he-hit-mollycoddled-killer-harder-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mississaugaoffice.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/boxer-who-punched-princess-annes-kidnapper-wishes-he-hit-mollycoddled-killer-harder-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxer who punched Princess Anne\u2019s kidnapper wishes he hit \u2018mollycoddled killer\u2019 harder"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Former\t<\/div>
Former heavyweight boxer Ronnie Russell poses with the George Medal he was awarded for saving Princess Anne (Picture: PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A boxer whose punches stopped Princess Anne’s kidnapper said his only regret was not hitting him harder after the ‘mollycoddled’ killer was set free.<\/p>\n

Ian Ball, 77, tried to kidnap Queen Elizabeth<\/a>’s only daughter for a \u00a33million Royal ransom in March 1974 when he also shot dead four men on The Mall.<\/p>\n

But undeterred by Ball’s threats, Ronnie \u2018The Geezer\u2019 Russell, now 77,drove past Anne’s Royal limousine and stopped.<\/p>\n

He could see Ball with a gun in each hand so punched him three times before police finally arrested him.<\/p>\n

Ball has now been released from Broadmoor Hospital despite being unrepentant for his crimes.<\/p>\n

Ball claims that the kidnap was a hoax, despite admitting to the murder of two policemen and the kidnap plot at the Old Bailey in May 1974.<\/p>\n

He’s even appealing his conviction, publishing a book and flying to Barbados and Japan on holiday.<\/p>\n

Ronnie gave his reaction to the news of the killer’s release, told Daily Mail<\/a>: \u2018I can\u2019t believe Ball\u2019s been released, it\u2019s ridiculous.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"The\t<\/div>
The aftermath of Ian Ball’s attempt to kidnap Princess Anne on The Mall (Picture: Hulton Archive\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I should have hit him a bit harder. Am I worried he might come and find me? Let\u2019s go further – give him my address, and I\u2019ll go one better this time.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s saying now \u201cNone of it ever happened, there was supposed to be no gunpowder in the bullets\u201d? It\u2019s absolutely impossible, because it did happen.<\/p>\n

\u2018He didn\u2019t come out with all that when he was sentenced at the Old Bailey – I was there, watching him plead guilty. He should be recalled to Broadmoor.<\/p>\n

\u2018When Ball was put away “at Her Majesty\u2019s pleasure” we were all sure he\u2019d never be out. I can\u2019t see any reason why he\u2019s been released, why a publishing company agreed to print his autobiography – or how come he\u2019s had benefits to save the money to go to Barbados.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tLatest London news\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n