The Water Street Job was a unique crime in the annals of British criminal history. It was the tunneling into and gaining entry to the bank vault, escaping with a reputed £140,000. This crime took place over the Bank Holiday weekend in August 1969. Why have I put this on? simple. There was an issue very close to home. My father received a visit from Police officers whom had received an anonymous tip that my father owned a thermal lance. The villains burned their way into the bank vault with such apparatus.
My father opened his shed and showed them his cutting gear; An oxyacetylene torch, just you find in any garage or workshop. "Where`s your lance?" was the first question upon entering the shed. Dad explained that this was the only gear he had and how had they come up with this ridiculous scenario. They said it was an anonymous tip. Dad pointed to the next door neighbors ` house saying, "that`s the bastard who phoned you. He`s only done that because I would n t do a welding job on his car". This guy was a petty thief, always braking into peoples` sheds and garages. Dad told the Police whom he bought his cutting gear off, a prominent local businessman and off they went to see him. Dad phoned him to warn him, to which he thought Dad was trying to take the piss. Eventually, he convinced him, and soon a return call came. The guy said he told everything to the plods and then they wanted to know if Dad was a villain, or mixed with heavy villains. Dad said he should have told them that Ronnie & Reggie were regular visitors!
The truth was that the villains who did pull the job, were all apprehended and jailed. The mastermind was said to have been Tommy Comerford, who received ten years. He was also said to have been Britain's first drugs baron, again receiving a substantial jail sentence later on.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Monday, 8 October 2012
More Undercover stories
If anybody follows what I write, it is all a bit haphazard. I simply write about whatever I feel on different criminal subjects. So it does not follow any pattern. In my last piece, I wrote about some undercover stories that have hit the big time. There is one story that I came across on the Crime & Investigation Network, on satellite. This involved an amazing U/C agent in the States. He was getting the confidence of major drug pushers and was getting them sent down for very heavy sentences. The Judge that the defendants appeared in front of, was a "Maximum John" style of Judge, in which he handed down the maximum sentence he was allowed to do by state or federal law. People with small amounts of drugs were receiving sentences of twenty and thirty years plus. But all this came tumbling down, when it was discovered that the people being sent to prison were barely scratching a living. One aging man was living in a ramshackle house, yet he was portrayed as the "Local Mr Big" living in squalor to fool the authorities!
An investigation was launched and it was soon established that these people were poor people and that they had been set-up by the U/C agent. He was passing drugs to them, only small amounts, but it was enough for him to claim that these were major criminals in the area, and they were soon being arrested and sent to jail for a very long time. His excuse for his actions was that he wanted to show his bosses, "just how good he was!"
One former U/C agent who has shunned anonymity is Peter Bleksey, a man who did go after major villains and did get them. He has not shirked from showing his face to anybody and has featured in numerous TV documentaries and radio interviews. He went after villains with intent to get real solid evidence to ensure the convicted stayed convicted.
An investigation was launched and it was soon established that these people were poor people and that they had been set-up by the U/C agent. He was passing drugs to them, only small amounts, but it was enough for him to claim that these were major criminals in the area, and they were soon being arrested and sent to jail for a very long time. His excuse for his actions was that he wanted to show his bosses, "just how good he was!"
One former U/C agent who has shunned anonymity is Peter Bleksey, a man who did go after major villains and did get them. He has not shirked from showing his face to anybody and has featured in numerous TV documentaries and radio interviews. He went after villains with intent to get real solid evidence to ensure the convicted stayed convicted.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Undercover Operatives
One area of Police work I have never touched upon and that is the role of the undercover cop. These have operated for decades in the USA, but only over the last forty years or more in this country. In this country, the cases I want to write about are the Colin Stagg saga and the case of a woman who"solicited" a murder.
As this case was been extensively covered, I will be brief. The Police used a woman agent to ensnare Stagg into confessing he murdered Rachel Nickell. The judge threw it out, calling it "Entrapment of the most reprehensible kind" This was not "Establishing his innocence or guilt" as the Police claimed but their attempt to get Stagg to say "I did it" no matter what. Some years later, the real murderer, Robert Napper was convicted, and it transpired that they had evidence that would have made him a strong suspect. Since his conviction, there had been silence from the Police and Paul Britton, the Psychologist who drew up the profile and helped with briefing the undercover agent, named "Lizzie James".
Next, comes the woman who was lucky not to be arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Murder. The truth was, she never solicited a murder. This was a set-up by a Police informer. The woman said something that thousands of women over the last 40 or 50 years, in violent and abusive marriages and relationships have said. That she would have her husband killed if she could get away with it. This was said to a taxi driver, who was the said informer. Astonishingly, he went to the Police who set up a sting with an undercover operative. HE went back to the woman stating, "Remember what you said about getting rid of your husband? I can get you a hitman!" She NEVER asked for a killer. HE brought it up. Amazingly, the agent, in his memoirs said that they were trained not to entrap people. Then what was this case? The murder plot was set in motion by the informer! The agent met with the woman who, not surprisingly, dithered. The agent was pushing for an answer. She said no, but could quite easily have said yes, but having no intention of going through with it. All the Police wanted to hear was "Yes". As I said, the informer, not the woman, set this in motion. Be warned!
As this case was been extensively covered, I will be brief. The Police used a woman agent to ensnare Stagg into confessing he murdered Rachel Nickell. The judge threw it out, calling it "Entrapment of the most reprehensible kind" This was not "Establishing his innocence or guilt" as the Police claimed but their attempt to get Stagg to say "I did it" no matter what. Some years later, the real murderer, Robert Napper was convicted, and it transpired that they had evidence that would have made him a strong suspect. Since his conviction, there had been silence from the Police and Paul Britton, the Psychologist who drew up the profile and helped with briefing the undercover agent, named "Lizzie James".
Next, comes the woman who was lucky not to be arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Murder. The truth was, she never solicited a murder. This was a set-up by a Police informer. The woman said something that thousands of women over the last 40 or 50 years, in violent and abusive marriages and relationships have said. That she would have her husband killed if she could get away with it. This was said to a taxi driver, who was the said informer. Astonishingly, he went to the Police who set up a sting with an undercover operative. HE went back to the woman stating, "Remember what you said about getting rid of your husband? I can get you a hitman!" She NEVER asked for a killer. HE brought it up. Amazingly, the agent, in his memoirs said that they were trained not to entrap people. Then what was this case? The murder plot was set in motion by the informer! The agent met with the woman who, not surprisingly, dithered. The agent was pushing for an answer. She said no, but could quite easily have said yes, but having no intention of going through with it. All the Police wanted to hear was "Yes". As I said, the informer, not the woman, set this in motion. Be warned!
Unsolved Murder
A part of crime that fascinates me is the solving of long forgotten cases. In the USA, many Police forces have what are known as "Cold Case" squads, who investigate long dead cases,. Just like the TV show "New Tricks" One case in this country which I can find no information about, is the murder of a garage owner in Birmingham, around 1978. He was found in a burnt out garage, but it was only when a post- mortem discovered that he had been shot through the forehead. This was then regarded as a gangland hit. The newspaper reports at the time said that the Police were investigating the deceased's ` background for any possible criminal links. All I remember is that the deceased garage owner was named Fred, but do not know if the crime was ever solved.
Locally, there were four unsolved murders in Bradford, up to the 60`s. One was a young girl in 1938 in Little Horton Green, Taxi driver Harry Graham, murdered outside Bierley Church in his cab, in 1944, Garner Street in 1955, and a woman in Bowling Park in 1963. The Harry Graham murder was featured in a true crime magazine.
Locally, there were four unsolved murders in Bradford, up to the 60`s. One was a young girl in 1938 in Little Horton Green, Taxi driver Harry Graham, murdered outside Bierley Church in his cab, in 1944, Garner Street in 1955, and a woman in Bowling Park in 1963. The Harry Graham murder was featured in a true crime magazine.
The Bank Job Film
It is remarkable that certain elements in films based on true events, are broadcast as fact. One recent film that is based on a true crime with elements of it peddled as fact is "The Bank Job" This was a raid on a bank in London in 1971, where the villains tunneled into it over a weekend, and a story sprung out, that the villains found highly compromising photographs of Princess Margaret were found. The film portrays the villains as being allowed to get away Scot-free, in order to avoid a huge scandal. I regard this as total bullshit.
Let us start with a few facts. Firstly, the robbers DID NOT get away with it. They were quickly apprehended and all were jailed. That destroys that tale. In the film, a Jamaican called Michael X somehow comes into possession of the photos, and Michael X is portrayed as a gangster. Again, this is totally untrue. As John O`Connor, the head of the Flying Squad at the time, said, that Michael X was never more than a small-time drug pusher and hustler. He also stated that X never had a safety deposit box at that bank. Why would he? He was strictly a nobody. The only claim to fame he had was that in 1975, he was back in Jamaica, committed a murder and was subsequently hanged for it. Jamaica still had the death penalty at that time. No doubt this was another subversion of the truth by the Government. Sure! Four years after the job.
Let us continue. George Mcindoe, the film`s producer, claimed that a "D" notice was served on the press to gag them. What is a "D" Notice? It is NOT a government order. It is simply a request to keep things quiet, particularly in sensitive Police operations. Certainly, there has been a flood of old journalists coming forward to state that the Government and the Police issued an official warning of silence over this affair. Actually, there has n `t.
Now we turn our attention to Mcindoe himself and his claims. He claims that he was introduced to the actual robbers, through criminal acquaintances, and that they showed him the photos. Now, do you believe that villains who pulled a highly elaborate and lucrative robbery, are simply going to say to a total stranger, "Hi there. We pulled off this blag and look at these pictures of Margaret being shagged!" Of course you are free to believe this, and that all and sundry knew who pulled the job, which would naturally come to the attention of informers, who would immediately pass this on to their Police handlers,because this would boost their credibility skywards. And then, what about the rest of the Underworld? Would they simply stand by and allow others with highly incriminating and profitable photos? Would they be moving in on the robbers, take the photos, and then carry out the next logical step? That is, to eliminate these people. Two gangs of villains can keep a secret if one is wiped out.
It was claimed that the robbers "Did not know what to do" with these pictures. Really? The best "Get out of jail" card you could possibly possess? Photos that could net you fortune sold around the continent and the USA! There is actually a reasonable explanation for alleged photos. At the time, blackmail was a highly profitable business, and where else could blackmailers leave their wares in safety! That`s right. A safety deposit box! To finish off, John O`Connor interviewed the men and asked about any supposed photos, as this was being spoken about a lot. The villains denied all knowledge of them, stating that it was a made up story. So much for the best "Get out of jail free" cards. What do you think?
Let us start with a few facts. Firstly, the robbers DID NOT get away with it. They were quickly apprehended and all were jailed. That destroys that tale. In the film, a Jamaican called Michael X somehow comes into possession of the photos, and Michael X is portrayed as a gangster. Again, this is totally untrue. As John O`Connor, the head of the Flying Squad at the time, said, that Michael X was never more than a small-time drug pusher and hustler. He also stated that X never had a safety deposit box at that bank. Why would he? He was strictly a nobody. The only claim to fame he had was that in 1975, he was back in Jamaica, committed a murder and was subsequently hanged for it. Jamaica still had the death penalty at that time. No doubt this was another subversion of the truth by the Government. Sure! Four years after the job.
Let us continue. George Mcindoe, the film`s producer, claimed that a "D" notice was served on the press to gag them. What is a "D" Notice? It is NOT a government order. It is simply a request to keep things quiet, particularly in sensitive Police operations. Certainly, there has been a flood of old journalists coming forward to state that the Government and the Police issued an official warning of silence over this affair. Actually, there has n `t.
Now we turn our attention to Mcindoe himself and his claims. He claims that he was introduced to the actual robbers, through criminal acquaintances, and that they showed him the photos. Now, do you believe that villains who pulled a highly elaborate and lucrative robbery, are simply going to say to a total stranger, "Hi there. We pulled off this blag and look at these pictures of Margaret being shagged!" Of course you are free to believe this, and that all and sundry knew who pulled the job, which would naturally come to the attention of informers, who would immediately pass this on to their Police handlers,because this would boost their credibility skywards. And then, what about the rest of the Underworld? Would they simply stand by and allow others with highly incriminating and profitable photos? Would they be moving in on the robbers, take the photos, and then carry out the next logical step? That is, to eliminate these people. Two gangs of villains can keep a secret if one is wiped out.
It was claimed that the robbers "Did not know what to do" with these pictures. Really? The best "Get out of jail" card you could possibly possess? Photos that could net you fortune sold around the continent and the USA! There is actually a reasonable explanation for alleged photos. At the time, blackmail was a highly profitable business, and where else could blackmailers leave their wares in safety! That`s right. A safety deposit box! To finish off, John O`Connor interviewed the men and asked about any supposed photos, as this was being spoken about a lot. The villains denied all knowledge of them, stating that it was a made up story. So much for the best "Get out of jail free" cards. What do you think?
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
The Blogging Game
Whilst we are all going mad on our own personal blogspots, it is sobering to think that it can be viewed as more than a hobby or past-time. One of the most popular Police blogs was "Coppersblog" which has now closed down. It was not very well received by the hierarchy of the Police because it unfortunately told the truth about Law and Order. Another popular blog was "Nightjack" This was witten by a ranking officer. But, lo and behold, a heroic journalist set out to expose this heinous officer. He relentlessly delved until he unearthed the name and rank of "Nightjack" It turned out that it was a DI from a Lancashire Force. He was hauled across the coals and the site shut down. Wow!! What a hero! He really showed his true journalistic skills by almost losing a dedicated cop his job and pension. He must be so proud!!
I am not sure if this was the same journalist who uncovered, through blackmail, itself a sickening and illegal measure, just who the "Girl with the one track mind" was. This anonymous blog and book was written by "Abby Lee" The blog was a no holds barred account of her sex life. Just who was this liberated woman? Our hero had to find out. He "acquired" her "co-operation" by threatening to reveal all to her mother and having her mothers` photo splashed all over his newspaper. This kind of blackmail was not a crime because it did not involve money. Again, what a hero! The identity of the "Girl with the one track mind" was revealed as one Zoe Margolis.
I am not sure if this was the same journalist who uncovered, through blackmail, itself a sickening and illegal measure, just who the "Girl with the one track mind" was. This anonymous blog and book was written by "Abby Lee" The blog was a no holds barred account of her sex life. Just who was this liberated woman? Our hero had to find out. He "acquired" her "co-operation" by threatening to reveal all to her mother and having her mothers` photo splashed all over his newspaper. This kind of blackmail was not a crime because it did not involve money. Again, what a hero! The identity of the "Girl with the one track mind" was revealed as one Zoe Margolis.
Gone but will never be forgotten - unfortunately!
Recently, there was the passing of a very notorious Bradford criminal. This was none other than Donald Neilson, otherwise known as "The Black Panther" Back in the mid-70`s, he was committing many burglaries and also a number of armed robberies. He then went on to cold-bloodedly murder three men during the course of his robberies. He also brutally pistol-whipped the wife of one of his victims, almost beating her to death. He then committed the crime that shook the nation. He kidnapped a teenage girl and held her to ransom. His plot fell apart and he murdered his helpless victim. He claimed it was an accident. Neilson spent thirty five years in jail for the crimes he perpetrated.
The sickening thing was that some people campaigned for his release, saying that he had served more than enough time for his crimes. Obviously, to these fucknuts, his victims did not amount to much. But fate came to the rescue and Neilson died behind bars. One of the Police Officers who arrested Neilson, during an attempt by Neilson to kill him and his partner, did have something to say about him. He described him as the most dangerous man he has ever faced in his whole life. This would not mean much to the professional apologists, whom only have one goal in life, and this is to excuse the actions of vicious scum.
The sickening thing was that some people campaigned for his release, saying that he had served more than enough time for his crimes. Obviously, to these fucknuts, his victims did not amount to much. But fate came to the rescue and Neilson died behind bars. One of the Police Officers who arrested Neilson, during an attempt by Neilson to kill him and his partner, did have something to say about him. He described him as the most dangerous man he has ever faced in his whole life. This would not mean much to the professional apologists, whom only have one goal in life, and this is to excuse the actions of vicious scum.
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