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

In 1972, four innocent black men were arrested and convicted of theft and assault of police officers by a corrupt pickpocket squad. The real criminal, DS Derek Ridgewell, was later proven to be heavily involved in organized crime. Graham Satchwell has worked with victim Winston Trew to reveal the rotten culture that enabled Ridgewell's activities and caused irreparable damage to many lives.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

In March 1972, a group of four young black men were apprehended by a specialized pickpocket squad at Oval Underground Station and accused of theft and assault on police officers. The individuals were sentenced to two years in prison, and the case appeared straightforward and convincing to the judge and jury who found them guilty. However, these young men were entirely innocent, victims of widespread police corruption. The true perpetrator behind this case was the notorious DS Derek Ridgewell, who was later discovered to have deep connections to organized crime. Graham Satchwell, once the most senior railway detective in Britain, has collaborated with Winston Trew, one of the victims of the Oval Four incident, to expose the corrupt culture that not only allowed Ridgewell to operate with impunity but also facilitated significant property thefts worth over £1 million. Trew's case was eventually overturned in December 2019, but the lasting impact of Ridgewell's shocking activities has caused irreparable harm to numerous lives and must never be forgotten.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803990194