Crimewatch Episode 10 - Broadcast date: 13th June 1985

The one year anniversary edition of Crimewatch.

Progress Report

A red car from lasts months Incident Desk had now been identified and a man arrested in connection to the murder of widow Pamela Reynolds in Worthing.

The body of Myfanwy Jones had now been found on a farm in Bala. Police were now excavating the farm in an attempt to find Ms Peggy Goodman.

In the case of Hastings Fire, police were now convinced a petrol can found at the scene had been taken from a nearby garage. There may have been a possible link to a man who had shot himself on Eastbourne beach the morning after the fire.

A man had been arrested for murder of Caroline Osborne, as well as nurse Amanda Whedon.

Last months Aladdin's Cave had proved a huge success with nearly all items being claimed.

Edinburgh Armed Robbery

Investigating Officer: Tom Sneddon, Lothian and Borders Police

On 1st March 1985, three men armed with shotguns robbed a Securicor guard collecting the days takings from Edinburgh district housing office. The Securicor van chased the gang across the city, twice ramming into them but eventually lost the gang.

Status: Unknown

Mark Tildesley

Investigating Officer: Tony Miller, Thames Valley Police

Originally featured on Incident Desk in June 1984, Crimewatch were now giving the case a full re-construction. Police were putting out another appeal for information on whereabouts of Mark Tildesley, a 7 year old who had disappeared from a fun fair in Wokingham on 1st June 1984.

Status: Solved

Mark's body has never been found but Leslie Bailey confessed to his murder in 1991. Bailey was a member of the 'Dirty Dozen' paedophile gang, led by Sidney Cooke.

Members of the gang were convicted of the murder of three children (Tildesley, Barry Lewis and Jason Swift) but believed to have been responsible for up to 20.

Bailey was murdered by a fellow inmate in 1993. Cooke remains in his prison with his most recent appeal for parole in 2025 having been rejected.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/killer-paedo-sidney-cooke-98-35400627

Incident Desk

Birmingham Building Society Robbers

Two men who had robbed three building societies around Birmingham in Sheldon, Sparkhill and Quinton areas.

Status: Unknown

Stepney Sexual Assaults

A man posing as a family doctor, tricked his way into peoples homes on three occasions before indecently assaulting people in the property.

Status: Unknown

Cliche Robbery Beaconsfield

Using a bomb scare for cover, four thieves disguised as workmen stole £120,000 worth of designer clothes and shoes from a boutique in Beaconsfield on 12th May.

Status: Unknown

Whittington Hospital Fire

A fire broke out at Whittington Hospital on 28th May. Nobody was hurt in the fire but est. £500,000 worth of damage was done to the building. Police were appealing for anyone with information on the arsonist to come forward.

Status: Unknown

Machinery Fraud

Thames Valley Police were looking for anyone who had seen David Beetles. Mr Beetles was wanted in connection with £168,000 fraud for sale of machinery parts.

Status: Solved

David Beetles was arrested after being identified by a Crimewatch viewer. He was sentenced to 2 and a half years in prison for fraud.

Daily Mirror, 28th September 1985

Church Artefacts

Police were looking to find out where recovered Christian artefacts had originated from.

Status: Unknown

Weybridge Home Shooting

Investigating Officer: John Gladwell, Surrey Police

On 22nd April 1985 at around 2am, two men broke into the home of Wallace and Mary Foster in Weybridge.

The raiders tied the couple to the bed and threatened to sexually assault Mary Foster. Husband Wallace got free and shot at the robbers. He was himself shot three times. 

The robbers escaped with £2000 cash and some jewellery.

Status: Solved

Two men were arrested and jailed for 15 and 18 years but no specific details found on the robbers.

Walton & Weybridge Informer, 5th March 1987

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