text: Arrogant: Violent robber Lynch posing for a jail selfie . Staring cockily at the camera, violent robber Craig 'Lazie' Lynch shows off his toned physique in a series of audacious self-portraits taken in his prison cell – from where he is said to be earning a fortune by running illegal websites. Lynch is serving nine years for a series of violent gang robberies, including one in which a knife was held to a terrified father's throat in front of his family. Use of computers, social media and mobile phones is strictly forbidden behind bars. Yet, as this picture and his posts show, Lynch has been free to run a sneering Facebook site from his cell in Bedford Prison. And, according to a former friend, he is using it to make huge profits from websites selling legal highs. The friend, now disgusted with Lynch and the 'lax attitude' of the prison authorities, told The Mail on Sunday the bearded criminal has become a 'self-made millionaire earning so much tax-free money behind bars he has invested in properties in Cyprus, Ireland and Spain and a fleet of luxury cars'. Lynch, 34, is in constant communication with more than 400 'friends', poking fun at British justice and bragging about using an iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy. He updates social media feeds with 'selfies' and photos of takeaway meals – and reports how he has had a tattoo, drinks vodka, plays online games and has a personal gym trainer. 'He should be in prison as a punishment, not living it up,' said the former friend. 'He's arrogant, resourceful, and owns properties overseas and UK-based businesses. 'Incredibly, this is all through crime, run on Facebook while in prison.' This is not the first time Lynch – who has appeared in court 22 times for 66 offences – has used Facebook to taunt the authorities. In 2009 he used the site to goad police after vanishing from Hollesley Bay Prison, Suffolk, where he was serving a seven-year sentence for aggravated burglary. He was recaptured in January 2010. He was later released but in August last year he was found guilty of robbery and sent back to prison – and once again began posting from his cell on Facebook. Claiming he studies 'Advanced criminology at University of Crime', he even uses Facebook to advertise for people to work for him. In one post he offers: '£250 an hour, three hours a week. Only the sinister to apply. Easy work. No crime.' Contraband items are often smuggled into jails or thrown over the walls. The former friend also believes Lynch was behind an attempt in March to fly contraband goods into the prison using a drone, which was discovered in netting above the perimeter wall – as reported in The Mail on Sunday. A parcel attached to the drone contained drugs, a phone, a blade and screwdrivers. The source said: 'Lynch posted a cutting from a newspaper report about the find and wrote, 'No comment…' It was his way of bragging he was behind it. 'He is making a fortune selling contraband inside, such as phones and legal highs, as well as his earnings from the websites, all tax-free. 'Yet the authorities seem to look the other way.' The Ministry of Justice said last night that any prisoners using mobile phones would face disciplinary action. Lynch is serving nine years in Bedford Prison (pictured) for a series of violent gang robberies .
target: Craig Lynch, 34, is serving nine years for a series of violent gang robberies .
  He has taken a series of audacious self-portraits posted on social media .
  According to a friend, he is using Facebook to make huge online profits .
  It's claimed he is selling legal highs and investing in overseas properties .