No Case to Answer: The Men who Got Away with the Great Train Robbery

On August 8, 1963, sixteen masked men ambushed the Glasgow-Euston mail train at Sears Crossing in Buckinghamshire, making off with a record haul of £2.6 million. While twelve of the robbers were jailed over the next five years, four were never brought to justice and lived out the rest of their lives in freedom. In No Case to Answer, Andrew Cook gathers and examines decades of evidence to answer these questions and more.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

On August 8, 1963, a group of sixteen masked men ambushed the Glasgow-Euston mail train at Sears Crossing in Buckinghamshire, England. The robbers, who were dressed in black and wearing masks, managed to steal a record-breaking amount of £2.6 million (equivalent to approximately £2 million in today's currency). Interestingly, the robbers received approximately £150,000 each (over £2 million in today's money) for their efforts. While twelve of the robbers were eventually jailed over the next five years, four of them managed to evade arrest and were never brought to justice. These four men, who went by the names of Ronnie Biggs, Buster Edwards, and Bruce Reynolds, became known as the Great Train Robbery fugitives.

What makes the story of these four men particularly intriguing is the fact that they never achieved the level of fame or notoriety that their counterparts, such as Ronnie Biggs, Buster Edwards, and Bruce Reynolds, did. These three men were household names and became tabloid celebrities after their involvement in the Great Train Robbery. However, the four fugitives who evaded capture remained relatively unknown to the public.

In his book, No Case to Answer, author Andrew Cook delves into decades of evidence and meticulously examines the case of the Great Train Robbery fugitives. Cook provides a comprehensive account of the events leading up to the robbery, the investigation that followed, and the attempts to capture the fugitives. He also sheds light on the lives of the four men, their backgrounds, and the reasons why they chose to evade arrest.

One of the most surprising aspects of the book is the fact that the four fugitives managed to evade detection for so long. They were able to live out the rest of their lives in freedom, without being apprehended by the authorities. This is despite the fact that they were wanted for a serious crime that had caused significant damage to the British economy and public confidence.

Cook's book raises several questions about the British justice system and the way in which crimes are investigated and prosecuted. It also highlights the flaws in the system that allowed the four fugitives to escape detection for so long. For example, there were several instances where witnesses or potential leads were not followed up on, which could have led to the capture of the robbers. Additionally, there were concerns about the level of corruption within the police force, which may have played a role in the failure to apprehend the fugitives.

Despite the passage of time and the lack of public attention, the story of the Great Train Robbery fugitives continues to intrigue and captivate people. It is a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the ability to evade capture, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Cook's book provides a valuable insight into the lives of these four men and the events that led to their escape from justice. It is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime and the history of the British criminal justice system.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 241 x 163 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750993869