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Post by liferreilly on Jul 15, 2020 16:32:40 GMT
I was watching a tv programme about John Straffen the other night. At the time of his death in 2007 he was the longest serving inmate. He had been inside for around 56 years. It got me thinking, who is Britain's longest serving prisoner, still inside today? I couldn't find a definitive answer online. Two off the top of my head: Arthur Duncan was jailed in 1970, still inside in 2015 (i'm presuming still inside) www.blackkalendar.nl/c/20929/Arthur%20Norman%20DuncanRobert Mone Jr was sent to Carstairs in the late 1960's. 67 i think. Apart from his brief escape in 1976,looks like he's done over 50 years. www.blackkalendar.nl/c/8403/Robert%20MoneDoes anyone know of any other current prisoners who have served longer?
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Post by Admin on Jul 15, 2020 19:16:20 GMT
Its an interesting question. I recall a few reports where prisoners have died that show they were in for a long time. None spring to mind, but the thing that I noted was that they were not major household names, but instead were sentenced for manslaughter, or attempted murder, but never got out. I could run a bit of code to try and figure it out but mostly its just a manual process as most entries dont have the release noted. Looking at the wholelife tarrifs suggests that Malcom Green has been in since 1971, 49 years: www.blackkalendar.nl/search.php?subpage=wholeLife&time=1594840198Also, the repeat offenders list, if you can fugure out who is still alive: www.blackkalendar.nl/search.php?subpage=repeatOffender&time=1594840198The first few seem to have release dates, but what about Thomas Michael Treacy? www.blackkalendar.nl/c/17553/Thomas%20Michael%20Treacyoops, looks like he was released. Or John William Slater www.blackkalendar.nl/c/17347/John%20William%20SlaterOther than that, you would have to start looking for people that where sentenced in 1966 or less and figure out if they are still inside. Douglas Leslie Smith looks dangerous enough to keep in permanently and young when imprisoned, 73 today: www.blackkalendar.nl/c/15307/Douglas%20Leslie%20Smith
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Post by liferreilly on Jul 15, 2020 21:50:51 GMT
Thanks for your insight.
Douglas Smith appealed to the European Commission of Human Rights on 10th September 1997 (application no 29467/95) The download can be found online. Douglas Leslie Smith v The United Kingdom Excerpts from it below:
"THE FACTS: Particular circumstances of the case. The applicant was convicted in 1966 of the manslaughter of a nine year old boy, whom he strangled and then sexually abused. The applicant was initially detained under sections 60 and 65 of the Mental Health act 1959, by the Liverpool Assizes on 28th January 1966. On 25th November 1983 the applicant received a conditional discharge by a Mental Health Review Tribunal. On discharge he went to live with his parents and after a short period moved to an independent flat where he was supervised by a probation officer. During this period he developed a friendship with some boys. There was no evidence of sexual misconduct by the applicant, however the fact the applicant had concealed his friendship from those charged with his care and supervision, was deemed sufficiently serious for the Home Office to recall the applicant on 13th November 1984..... .....Sadly there is no change from the position addressed by the Tribunal in 1995. We are extremely disturbed at the lack of insight shown by the patient. He does not accept that he requires treatment to deal with his sexual attraction to young boys"
Looks like he was released for almost a year in 83-84.Frightening to think the review board deemed him fit for release. Let's hope he's still inside.
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Post by sportstergirl on Jul 15, 2020 21:55:36 GMT
I think Michael Hanson is still inside for a murder he & his wife did in 1970. His wife Carol killed herself ( Not sure on this either) in 1997.
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Post by Admin on Jul 15, 2020 21:58:47 GMT
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Post by liferreilly on Jul 15, 2020 22:13:22 GMT
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Post by sportstergirl on Jul 16, 2020 8:02:18 GMT
Sorry about the mistake with the Hansons. Peter Bastin,a nasty piece of work who killed a young boy in the 70s has been inside since 1979 apart from a short period when he escaped in 2009 & was recaptured in Blackpool. Blackpool murderer & paedophile Peter Chester, aka Peter Speakman has been in prison since 1978 for raping & strangling his niece. He was originally sentenced to 20 years but remains in prison today as he is still deemed a danger to children
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Post by liferreilly on Jul 16, 2020 10:44:56 GMT
No need for apologies. I didn't know if the Hansons were dead or alive till i looked it up!
Peter Bastin and Peter Chester (Speakman) are two revolting sub-humans. Speakman actually campaigned to try and get prisoners the right to vote. Thankfully he was unsuccessful. The only choice i'd let him vote on, is whether he wanted the rope or an injection! I don't think those type of people can or do ever change. Let's hope they rot inside for a lot longer.
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Post by liferreilly on Jul 16, 2020 10:58:01 GMT
I had a look at the deaths-in-custody/ kick-the-bucket list. Couldn't see Ridley on it. Hopefully he's still inside. He should be. Though knowing how some of the parole/review boards work, I wouldn't be one hundred percent confident.
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Post by matthewspicer on Jul 16, 2020 21:38:49 GMT
You can never truly know this as for years asking the Home Office about lifers was difficult .... but (and that list of death is very useful) but going back to the Homicide Act (1957):
Gordon Robinson (1957) - 25 + recalled 27 years - 52 years
Horace Edwards (1957) - 45 years died in custody (not on that list) - psychiatric hospital
Derrick Edwards (1957) - 33 years d-in-c
Kenneth Barlow (1957) died 26 years
Alfred Gwynne (1958) died in Broadmoor - 34 years
Herbert Scott (1959) died in custody - 44 years
Patrick Byrne (1960) at least 37 years (released 1993 then recalled)
Alan Wills (1961) 50 yrs in total (inc. recalled) d-in-c 2016
Jack Jowett (1961) 33 years d-in-c in 1995
.... so many of these stop listing .... but I think longest serving now is David Wardley (1965) - will be 55 years in Nov
Edward Webb died 2017 - convicted 1963 did 54 years -
Michael Hanson d-in-c Nov 2008
I can do this case-by-case if anyone is interested ....
Michal Hanson d-in-c 2008 38 years
Matthew:)
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Post by matthewspicer on Jul 16, 2020 21:40:51 GMT
Barlow is did 26 years ....
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Post by liferreilly on Jul 16, 2020 22:36:52 GMT
Thanks a lot for that information.
Wardley has done almost 55 years then. Similar to the Harry Roberts case, in that they both killed policemen in 1965 and 66. Yet Roberts has been out over five years I think and his case was far more notorious. I'd never heard of the Wardley case before you mentioned it.
Admin's prediction that there'd be a lifer from around 1966, still inside, was quite accurate.
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Post by liferreilly on Jul 16, 2020 23:05:58 GMT
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Post by matthewspicer on Jul 17, 2020 17:01:22 GMT
Yes with Webb and Wardley the length was not really the actual murder - they would have been way past the minimums - even with Wardley killing a policeman - that's why some of these really long sentences are by people no-one has ever heard off ....
Also there may be Lifers from Manslaughter on the grounds of Diminished Responsibility before 1966; and as to people found insane it is just possible there may be some still detained from the 1950s ....
Matthew:)
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Post by matthewspicer on Jul 17, 2020 17:22:21 GMT
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