Det Sgt Derek Ridgewell is already known to have framed at least 13 men in London, mostly Black, in the 70s, but evidence now indicates he targeted scores more
A racist cop is suspected of fitting up more than 100 innocent victims in one of the biggest corruption scandals in British policing history.
Det Sgt Derek Ridgewell is already known to have framed at least 13 men in London, mostly Black, in the 70s. Former detective Graham Satchwell has now found evidence indicating that the officer targeted scores more people despite bosses suspecting that he was corrupt.
Ridgewell died in jail aged 37 in 1982 but British Transport Police detectives are currently interviewing witnesses and victims as they investigate his former associates. Mr Satchwell, a senior ex-BTP officer, suspects there were up to 18 bent cops implicated in the scandal.
While researching their book “Rot at the Core”, co-written with Ridgwell victim Winston Trew, the pair uncovered evidence that the officer destroyed the lives of more than 100 people. Mr Satchwell said: “Taken together with the crimes that Ridgewell allegedly solved whilst investigating for several years across the country as a Force Headquarters officer, it is most probable that many more than 100 Ridgewell victims still await justice.
“Now they, and their family members, can safely come forward and speak in complete confidentiality.”
Mr Trew, 75, also urged victims to come forward. He said: “I had to fight for forty years to clear my name and I finally got that at the Court of Appeal in 2019. If other people want justice then they should say they are one of Ridgewell’s victims. He ruined people’s lives and split families apart, doing untold damage. People should come forward to expose this man.”
Lawyer Matt Foot, of charity Appeal, said people can come forward to him in confidence. Mr Foot said: “This officer and his squad set off a nationwide moral panic labelling young black men as muggers. He was prolific and there are many cases out there that remain to be resolved.”
Ridgewell arrested Mr Trew and four others at Oval Tube station, South London, in 1972. They were beaten and jailed for eight months for assaulting an officer, with their convictions finally overturned 47 years later.
Dressed in plain clothes, Ridgewell would accuse innocent men of robbing people on the tube, beat them up if they resisted arrest, make up a semi-confession and lie on oath at court to convict them. Among those he targeted in the early 1970s were groups who became known as the Oval Four, the Stockwell Six, the Waterloo Four and the Tottenham Court Road Two.
So far 13 men have had their names cleared at court. BBC’s Nationwide broadcast a film in 1973 revealing that Ridgewell was probably lying to get convictions. But instead of being arrested he was moved to the head office and was later allowed to investigate around the country.
It meant the prolific bent cop was free to continue framing people for five more years until he was finally charged in 1978. It is understood that investigators have identified at least one case outside of London. Ridgewell joined forces with a couple of career criminals with whom he split the proceeds from stolen mailbags before finally being arrested and jailed for seven years for stealing £1million in goods.
DS Ridgewell, DC Douglas Ellis and DC Alan Keeling, admitted in 1980 to stealing from the same Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot. Mr Satchwell has found an internal BTP newsletter published in 1977 after Ridgewell fitted up staff at the warehouse in south east London.
It reveals that his team had been commended by the Chief Constable after arresting another 77 people, many Turkish and Nigerian, in that building alone. If you have information contact Matt Foot at [email protected]
