Progress Report
A woman came forward in the case of the unidentified Bedgebury Forest Woman, stating she was the one who made the dress she was wearing. They know the dress went to auction but were now looking for the person who either bought or altered it.
Calls received on rape of an eleven year old girl outside Moston Youth Centre led to a man being charged by police for indecent assault. This was not however, connected to the offence featured.
Con-man Alexander Hamilton had been arrested and charged by Sussex Police while the show was still on the air.
Austin John McCormick had now been traced and had been charged with the murder of William Osu (for which he was later cleared).
PC John Thorpe came on the show to make a personal appeal in the John Speed murder case. Thorpe had been shot in the incident but survived his injuries. He appealed to the second man to come forward with any information.
Mark Yendell "Bristol Docks Murder"
Investigating Officer: Jeff Butler, Avon & Somerset Constabulary
On 10th September 1984, rail worker Mark Yendell was beaten in the head at Bristol Temple Meads station and his body then dumped in Bristol docks.
The motive for the murder is unknown. A large amount of money was found in his car that had been left parked at an unusual angle at Temple Meads station, suggesting it could have been moved and then returned.
Two men had been seen on a train between Cardiff and Bristol, allegedly looking for a moustached man who worked the train buffet car. This may have been coincidental.
Status: Unsolved
Mark Yendell had reunited with his wife Sue six weeks before his murder. She had previously left him for another man, Edward Witt but had since gone back to Mark. Witt was charged with his murder 10 days after the investigation began but was later cleared. Sue had always claimed Witt was innocent and that he and Mark were "friends, not enemies."
Six people in total were arrested during the course of the investigation but nobody else has been charged.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/mystery-bloodstained-car-man-dumped-13931
Photocall
James Baigrie
Convicted murderer James Baigrie had escaped from Saughton jail in October 1983. He was regarded as very dangerous and members of the public were warned not to approach him.
Status: Solved
On 20th March 1985, Baigrie was tracked to Earls Court in London. A two day siege followed and Baigrie holed himself up inside a white van armed with a shotgun. The seige ended on the 22nd March, when police launched CS gas canisters into the van. When the van was opened, it was found Baigrie had shot himself in the face with his shotgun.
Coventry Evening Telegraph, 22nd March 1985
George MacKayGeorge Mackay was also an inmate of Saughton prison and convicted murderer. He had been on the run since 28th December 1984.
Status: Solved
Mackay had been given a licence to leave the prison on a government 'Training for Freedom' programme but had not returned. He was later apprehended.
Mackay was originally sent to prison in 1975 for murder and given a life sentence. He made repeated attempts to escape, all of them failed.
George Mackay passed away from cancer in February 2021, just days before he was set to be given compassionate leave from prison.
Aberdeen Press & Journal, 5th January 1985
https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-killer-dies-waiting-compassionate-27151397Colin Maxwell
13-year-old Colin Maxwell originally from Scotland but living in Streatham, had been missing since 19th February 1984. He had been sent on a shopping trip by his mother but had not been seen since.
Status: Unsolved
Colin's remains were unearthed behind a residence in Streatham Common North. The prime suspect was Albert Newman, who had been Colin's mother's boyfriend at the time but police did not have enough evidence to prosecute.
The case was re-opened in 2002 and Newman was charged with the murder. This was apparently based on a conversation he had with a prison officer in which he confessed to the killing.
However, when the case came to trial in January 2004, it was ruled that Newman was not mentally fit and his confession was unreliable.
https://www.london-now.co.uk/news/455454.man-cleared-of-boys-1984-murder/
Marion Hodge
On 6th July 1984, Marion Hodge had been driven from her home in Lockerbie and dropped off in the Whitesands area of Dumfries. Nobody had seen her since.
Status: Unsolved
Marion Hodge has never been found. Despite their being no body, her husband William Hodge was due to be tried for her murder in February 2025. However, due to his diminished mental capabilities, it was ruled he was unfit to stand trial.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9e71x9k78o
Berkhamsted Rapist
Investigating Officer: Michael Buttle, Hertfordshire Constabulary
Between November and December 1984, three teenage girls were attacked and raped by a balaclava wearing man in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. One other girl had a fortunate escape. The man would bring them to a secluded area at knifepoint before carrying out his assaults.
Status: Solved
New DNA evidence allowed police to convict Paul Drinkwater for the rapes in 2015. He was sentenced to 29 years in prison on two counts of rape, indecent assault and robbery.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32091277
Incident Desk
Chippenham Jewellery Theft
Three young men played out an elaborate plan to steal £12,000 worth of gold chains from Chas Hart's jewellers in Chippenham on 12th November 1984.
Status: Solved
In the March 85 edition of Crimewatch, it was revealed three men had been arrested.
Bristol Evening Post, 7th February 1985
Terry Wright stabbing
In Shepherd's Bush on 21st December 1984, detective Terry Wright chased after a man who had robbed Fenton's store on the High Street. He was stabbed by the robber who escaped in a purple Ford Cortina.
Status: Solved
Cecil Croasdale had already been given a life-sentence for the murder of restaurant worker Tai Hing Hau but during his trial in May 1986, he was named by his co-defendant Desmond Hayden as the man who stabbed Terry Wright. Croasdale received an additional 13 years on his sentence.
Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush Gazette, 23rd May 1986
Clock TheftClocks valued at £70,000 were stolen from the home of a widow in Torquay in November 1984.
Status: Unknown
Police stated they had received tip-offs from the 'criminal element' but it is unknown if the clocks were recovered.
Torbay Express and South Devon Echo, 23rd January 1985 Hairspray ThievesA trailer loaded with 31,000 cans of hairspray was stolen from a lay-by near Weston-Super-Mare on 2nd January 1985.
Status: Solved
The gang were apparently unaware of what it was they stole. They asked a farmer if they could leave the trailer on their land until they returned.
The farmer agreed but unfortunately for the thieves, the farmer was a Crimewatch viewer who recognised the trailer. When the gang returned, police were waiting to arrest them. They received sentences between six to 18 months.
Dundee Weekly News, 22nd November 1986
Epping BurglaryInvestigating Officer: Derek Cass, Essex Police
On 14th December 1984, Brian and Jillian Mitchell along with their son Dean were brutally attacked inside their own home by a trio of armed robbers. Their dog Jumbo, was killed during the raid.
Status: Solved
An informant named 'Ernie' shopped the gang in exchange for a £1000 reward. Ernie, a criminal himself, was apparently disgusted by the violence of the gang. The gang received prison sentences of 8-14 years.
Gloucestershire Echo, 26th July 1986
CRIMEWATCH RE-WATCH YOU TUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/live/yUeDmKRmVLM
