You have been after us long enough Ronald Kray

Detective Chief Superintendent Frederick Gerrard told Old Street magistrates' court he and a number of other officers had gone to the hotel the previous evening at 2115.

They found the brothers in the basement bar of the hotel, where they were cautioned, before being taken to Highbury Vale police station and later to City Road police station.

When they were told they would be charged, Ronald Kray said: "It's taken you long enough. You have been after us long enough."

Superintendent Gerrard said he objected to bail because there were two other men involved who had not yet been arrested.

He continued: "If they are granted bail I feel sure that we would be impeded in our endeavours to trace these men, and that essential witnesses will be intimidated by these men or friends acting for them."

Victor Durand QC, who is defending the brothers, said they did not know from whom they were supposed to have demanded money - nor how much money was involved.

"One does not know whether the amount is 5s, £5 or £50," he said.

On the direction of magistrate Neil MacElliot, Superintendent Gerrard wrote the name of the person at the centre of the case on a piece of paper and passed it to him.

But Mr MacElliot ruled the sums involved did not need to be disclosed at this stage of proceedings.

Agreeing to the police request to keep the brothers in custody, Mr MacElliot said: "I am satisfied, as far as I can be at this stage, that there are other persons at large who are in a position to, and will perhaps be in a better position to, interfere with witnesses and to impede the investigation were you at large."

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