Boxer who punched Princess Anne’s kidnapper wishes he hit ‘mollycoddled killer’ harder

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.

Ian Ball, 77, tried to kidnap Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter for a £3million Royal ransom in March 1974 when he also shot dead four men on The Mall.

But undeterred by Ball’s threats, Ronnie ‘The Geezer’ Russell, now 77,drove past Anne’s Royal limousine and stopped.

He could see Ball with a gun in each hand so punched him three times before police finally arrested him.

Ball has now been released from Broadmoor Hospital despite being unrepentant for his crimes.

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.

He’s even appealing his conviction, publishing a book and flying to Barbados and Japan on holiday.

Ronnie gave his reaction to the news of the killer’s release, told Daily Mail: ‘I can’t believe Ball’s been released, it’s ridiculous.

‘I should have hit him a bit harder. Am I worried he might come and find me? Let’s go further – give him my address, and I’ll go one better this time.

‘He’s saying now “None of it ever happened, there was supposed to be no gunpowder in the bullets”? It’s absolutely impossible, because it did happen.

‘He didn’t 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.

‘When Ball was put away “at Her Majesty’s pleasure” we were all sure he’d never be out. I can’t see any reason why he’s been released, why a publishing company agreed to print his autobiography – or how come he’s had benefits to save the money to go to Barbados.

‘I’m going to Barbados later this year, but that’s because I worked for it. I had to sell my medal. He’s been mollycoddled, and it’s been too easy for him.’

Ronnie recalled the moment he saved the princess and said: ‘I was lifting Princess Anne out of the car by her forearms, saying “Now we’re going to walk away, and he’s going to have to go through me to get to you” I was a big lad.

‘But Ball came round the car, and her husband Captain Mark Phillips pulled her back in. When I turned, he was stood there with his gun pointed at me (he’d broken a car window with the other one, and it was on the floor), shouting “Come on Anne, you’ve got to come”.

‘That’s when I decided it was going to be me, or him. I had to hit him first, and harder.

‘I was quite prepared to sacrifice myself for a member of the Royal Family.’

Ronnie was invited to Buckingham Palace in 1974 for his efforts helping Princess Anne and received the George Medal.

Other people including royal bodyguard James Beaton, shot three times, was awarded the George Cross, journalist Brian McConnell and Anne’s chauffeur Alex Callender, both shot in the chest, the Queen’s Gallantry medal – while PC Michael Hills, shot in the stomach, got the George Medal.

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