Rot at the Core: The Serious Crimes of a Detective Sergeant

by Graham Satchwell, Winston Trew, Anthony Edwards (Preface by)

Overview

In March 1972, four young black men were arrested by a specialist pickpocket squad at Oval Underground Station and charged with theft and assault of police officers. Sentenced to two years in prison, the case seemed straightforward and credible to the judge and jury who convicted them – but these young men were completely innocent, victims of endemic police corruption. The real criminal in this case was the notorious DS Derek Ridgewell, later proven to be heavily involved in organised crime.

Graham Satchwell, at one time Britain's most senior railway detective, has worked with Oval Four victim Winston Trew to reveal the rotten culture that not only enabled Ridgewell to operate as he did, but also to subsequently organise major thefts of property worth in excess of £1 million. Winston Trew's case was finally overturned in December 2019, but the far-reaching ramifications of Ridgewell's shocking activities has irreparably damaged many lives and must never be forgotten.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780750997683
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	05/07/2021
Sold by:	INDEPENDENT PUB GROUP - EPUB - EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

WINSTON TREW was wrongly convicted of theft and assault as one of the Oval Four in 1972. His conviction was finally overturned in December 2019.

GRAHAM SATCHWELL is a former detective superintendent, British Transport Police (1968–99) who served in every rank of CID within the British Transport Police. He received official commendations for detective work from HM judges, chief constables, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Lord Lieutenant of London. For many years Britain's most senior railway detective, his books include Great Train Robbery Confidential and An Inspector Recalls for The History Press.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Graham Satchwell 7

Preface Anthony Edwards 9

Acknowledgements 11

Foreword Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate 13

Introduction 15

Chapter 1 Dipping 23

Chapter 2 Who was Detective Sergeant Ridgewell? 27

Chapter 3 Ridgewell Re-joins the BTP 34

Chapter 4 Who was Winston Trew? 40

Chapter 5 Running the Dip Squad 48

Chapter 6 DS Ridgewell - Force Headquarters CID 55

Chapter 7 Bricklayers Arms Depot 63

Chapter 8 Ridgewell's Fall 76

Chapter 9 Forty Years Later and Still Suffering 95

Chapter 10 The Breakthrough 102

Chapter 11 Ridgewell's Will 108

Chapter 12 Pressure for Results and Permitted Corruption 113

Chapter 13 The Chief Constable's Responsibility 126

Postscript 136

Part 2 Winston Trew 143

Introduction Son of a Police Sergeant 145

Chapter 1 Crisis Followed Crisis 151

Chapter 2 Leaving School, Finding a Job 160

Chapter 3 Joining the Fasimbas, Meeting Ridgewell 167

Chapter 4 Camberwell Magistrates' Court 187

Chapter 5 Leaving Prison, Finding a Job 194

Chapter 6 An Overview of Ridgewell's Five Cases 204

Chapter 7 Ridgewell's Mistakes 225

Chapter 8 Diary of Significant Events 238

Chapter 9 Reflections on My Long Journey 262