- 2 hours ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Good morning. We have another powerful show today.
00:04We're joined by the family of 19-year-old Ellis Cox,
00:07who was fatally shot in 2023.
00:10They're campaigning to keep up the pressure to find those involved.
00:14And a multi-million pound drugs bust of a gang
00:18who spread misery right across the country.
00:21He looked like an ordinary guy.
00:24I didn't realise that we were going to be stopping
00:26a UK-wide organised crime group.
00:33And could you face the person who killed a member of your family?
00:37I needed to bring that impact to him,
00:39and I needed him to understand what he'd done.
00:43We've got that and more on Crimewatch Live.
00:47We've been jamming the switchboard both here and at the instant room.
00:52To remind you, this was the abduction and radio block campaign
00:55and the handgun debate.
00:59Hello and welcome to Crimewatch.
01:0112 people rang and giving the safety of this fantastic business.
01:13Good morning, and thanks for joining us today.
01:15We're here in Cardiff, ready to ask for your help
01:17with some of the biggest appeals in the UK.
01:20Including why these Pokemon cars are suddenly
01:22at the centre of a crime wave across the country.
01:26And behind the scenes in our HQ,
01:28our team are ready to take your calls.
01:30You can scan our QR code
01:32to get all of our details,
01:33or you can call us on 08000 468 999.
01:38Text us on this number there.
01:40There it is, 63399.
01:42Start your message with the word crime,
01:44then leave a space,
01:44then write your text,
01:45or email us at this address here,
01:48cwl at bbc.co.uk.
01:51Remember, those details are going to stay on the screen,
01:53down at the bottom,
01:54all through the show.
01:57Now, our first appeal this morning
01:59comes from Newark, Northgate,
02:00and it dates back to 1987.
02:03A teenage schoolgirl waited alone for a delayed train.
02:06A predatory group of men took advantage.
02:09As you can imagine,
02:10this film has some strong content.
02:17Even after all this time,
02:19I've been too afraid to face it.
02:22To keep silent is to pretend it never happened.
02:36In December 1987,
02:38Sophie, who was in her mid-teens,
02:40was catching a train from Stevenage to Hull.
02:44We've changed her name to protect her identity.
02:48These are her words.
02:57It was a Friday night.
02:58The train stopped at Newark Station,
03:01as it usually did,
03:02but all passengers were told to get off.
03:05The next train to Doncaster
03:07was delayed two hours
03:09because of the snow up north.
03:18A large group of men
03:20were also on the platform.
03:23They all look quite similar,
03:25short-cut hairstyles,
03:27jeans or sweatpants,
03:28carrying canvas bags over their shoulders.
03:34I vividly remember one of the young men
03:36being very vocal
03:37and complaining about the delay.
03:40The group of men all decided
03:41to go to the nearest pub.
03:43As they were leaving,
03:44the loudest person,
03:46person two,
03:47asked me what I was going to do.
03:51Thinking she would be safer
03:53than waiting alone on the platform,
03:55she went with them to the local pub.
04:03I was 16.
04:04I didn't drink,
04:05so I asked for a Coke.
04:10I remember distinctly
04:12person two giving me the Coke,
04:14and I questioned why it tasted funny.
04:16He gave no reason.
04:18He kept encouraging me to drink up.
04:21He then brought me another drink
04:22straight away.
04:52One of the most vivid memories
04:53to this day I have
04:54is looking down at my feet
04:56as I was being taken
04:57along the platform
04:58and realising
05:00they weren't touching the floor
05:01but were dragging along the ground.
05:06I remember seeing other passengers
05:08on the platform look at me
05:09as I was being carried by these guys.
05:12I remember one passenger
05:13looking at me
05:14and then looking away,
05:15maybe in shame,
05:17maybe in disgust.
05:26Sophie was dragged
05:27to the end of the tracks.
05:31She was raped
05:32by one of the men
05:33as the others watched.
05:38They then made her wait with them
05:39until the train arrived.
06:01Sophie was then pushed
06:03into the toilet
06:04where she was raped
06:05a second time
06:06by the same man.
06:16I remember starting
06:17to sober up
06:18in the toilet
06:19and realising
06:20I could now talk
06:21and try to get out
06:22of this situation.
06:24A short time later
06:26the train pulled
06:27into Doncaster station.
06:29Person two
06:30was telling me
06:30I had to stay with them.
06:37Sophie finally saw
06:38a chance to escape
06:39by telling them
06:41she was going to check
06:41on her connection
06:43and when she saw
06:44the train on the platform
06:46she quickly jumped on.
06:49She hid
06:50when she saw person two
06:51looking for her.
06:57I remember the man
06:58opposite me
06:59looking at me quizzically.
07:04The doors to the carriage
07:05closed
07:06and the train
07:07started to move away
07:08slowly.
07:09I remember
07:10a massive sigh of relief.
07:13I'm finally safe.
07:24Sophie had kept
07:25this horrific ordeal
07:27to herself
07:28for most of her life.
07:32I finally told
07:33my husband
07:33and the tears
07:34finally came.
07:37After years
07:38I stopped
07:39feeling ashamed.
07:45Well
07:46I'm now with
07:47Detective Superintendent
07:48Sam Blackburn
07:49from the British
07:50Transport Police.
07:50Sam that's
07:51an absolutely
07:52harrowing ordeal
07:53for that young woman
07:54back then isn't it?
07:55Can you just remind us
07:56the key details
07:57of what happened?
07:57So this is
07:59December 1987
08:01almost 40 years ago.
08:03Specifically
08:04it was a very
08:04very cold winter
08:06and the victim
08:07had boarded a train
08:08that had stopped
08:09at Newark
08:10Northgate
08:11because of the weather.
08:13She disembarked
08:14off the train
08:15and was met
08:16by a large group
08:17of men.
08:19They encouraged her
08:21saying that
08:22they were in
08:22from the army
08:23to go to
08:24a local pub.
08:27Whilst in that pub
08:28her drink was spiked
08:30and she was forced
08:31to have more
08:32and more drink.
08:34They then left
08:35the pub
08:36and she was carried
08:37to the train station
08:39as we saw
08:40in the reconstruction.
08:41And there
08:42on those cold
08:43train tracks
08:44she was raped.
08:45Absolutely horrific
08:46but it didn't end
08:47there did it?
08:48It didn't end there
08:49and then she went
08:50back onto the train
08:51and again
08:51she was raped
08:52again on that train
08:54with all of those
08:55six men.
08:56We think there's
08:56about six men
08:57with her
08:57encouraging
08:58that behaviour.
09:00Absolutely horrific
09:01what happened.
09:02She described
09:02a group
09:03which she said
09:03around about six men
09:04but there was
09:04two main perpetrators
09:06within the group.
09:07What can you tell us about that?
09:08Yeah that's correct.
09:09I mean the main one
09:10that introduced himself
09:11on the platform
09:12was very loud
09:13and chatty
09:14almost that ringleader
09:15of this group
09:16the one that encouraged
09:17her to feel safe
09:19and to come to
09:19that public house.
09:21And then there was
09:22another male
09:23the rapist
09:24who was quieter
09:25shy as she described
09:27and who was nervous.
09:30Any description
09:31that you're able
09:32to obtain?
09:32The descriptions
09:33are limited
09:34or very general.
09:35I mean she stereotypes
09:36them as being
09:37squaddies
09:38but the instigator
09:40that ringleader
09:41described as a white male
09:43five foot six
09:44five foot seven
09:45in height
09:45again just being
09:46very loud
09:47and then the rapist
09:50very similar height
09:51five foot six
09:52five foot seven
09:53clean shaven
09:54short dark hair
09:56but he spoke
09:57with a northern accent.
09:58And you mentioned
09:59the army
10:00she said there was
10:01conversations
10:01that would suggest
10:02they may have belonged
10:04or have some affiliation
10:05with the army
10:05there was also mentioned
10:06the backpacks
10:07that they had
10:07which may again
10:08back that up.
10:10Who do you want
10:11to hear from today?
10:11Who can help us
10:12with this?
10:13I'd say 125,000
10:15serving British soldiers
10:16in the army
10:17at that time
10:18I want to speak
10:19to those six
10:20or I want to speak
10:21to those people
10:22that may have heard
10:23that story
10:24replayed in a different way
10:26over time.
10:28Friendships do change
10:30allegiances change
10:31so if you know
10:32someone that was involved
10:34in that
10:34or heard that story
10:36being told
10:36I want to hear from you.
10:39Yeah and I hope
10:39we do get exactly that
10:40Sam thank you
10:41for joining us
10:42please do
10:43use the contact details
10:44on screen
10:45to get in touch
10:46if you can help
10:47in any way.
10:49Well as we heard there
10:50it can take decades
10:52sometimes
10:52to come forward
10:53and ask for help
10:54if you have been a victim
10:55of sexual abuse.
10:57Making that step easier
10:58is new pathways
10:59and I'm joined now
11:00by Jackie Stamp
11:01their CEO
11:02and Nikki
11:03who is a survivor
11:04of childhood sexual abuse.
11:07Thank you to both of you
11:07for coming in today
11:09it's a difficult topic
11:10to talk about
11:11so we appreciate
11:12your time.
11:12Jackie just to come
11:13to you first
11:13tell us a bit more
11:14about New Pathways
11:15and how it works.
11:16Of course thank you
11:17New Pathways
11:19is a charity
11:20based in Wales
11:21we support about
11:2211,000 people
11:23every year.
11:24We started actually
11:25almost 35 years ago
11:27and at that time
11:28it's just a helpline
11:29for women affected
11:30by rape in a local area
11:32but we realised
11:33very quickly
11:34the issue was
11:35much wider than that
11:36it could affect
11:36sexual abuse
11:37could affect
11:38anyone of any gender
11:39of any age
11:40so fast forward
11:41to today
11:42we provide a lot
11:43of services
11:44for adults
11:45for children
11:46for young people
11:48cancelling services
11:49to help people
11:50recover from the trauma
11:51there are support services
11:53available for people
11:54if they just need
11:54some coping skills
11:55maybe to move on
11:56with their lives
11:57we run six of the eight
11:59sexual assault referral centres
12:01in Wales are SARCs
12:02they're generally known as now
12:04and we have a large team
12:06of ISVAs
12:06so that's independent
12:07sexual violence advisors
12:09and they can help people
12:11to consider their options
12:13about reporting
12:14to the police
12:14because whilst that's an option
12:16it's not for everyone
12:17and the important thing
12:18for most people
12:19is just to recover
12:20It's also important
12:22to say isn't it Jackie
12:23that there isn't any
12:24expiry date
12:25on coming forward
12:26Absolutely
12:28it's never too late
12:29to report a sexual crime
12:31actually official statistics
12:33will show us
12:34that maybe only 15%
12:36of people ever
12:36disclose sexual abuse
12:38and sometimes
12:39our own records show
12:4030, 40, 50 years later
12:42people can still come forward
12:44and tell their story
12:45for the first time
12:46they can still take a report
12:48or get support services
12:49it's really important
12:50people know
12:50the stigma
12:51doesn't have to be there
12:52Well Nicky
12:53you sought help
12:54from New Pathways
12:56didn't you
12:56that was a really pivotal
12:58moment for you
12:59wasn't it?
13:00Yes it was
13:00I was sexually abused
13:02between the ages of
13:0310 and 13
13:05and it was an experience
13:08that shaped my entire life
13:10and you know
13:12when I look back now
13:14I can't believe
13:15you know how much
13:16it impacted me
13:17and what it did to me
13:19you know
13:19I had very little self worth
13:23people pleased
13:24you know
13:24my behaviours
13:25were shocking
13:26and it was all
13:27as a result
13:27of that violation
13:30and my wife and I
13:32adopted three children
13:34back just a few years ago
13:36and when I looked at them
13:38I saw their vulnerability
13:38and I saw their innocence
13:40and I knew that
13:41I had to rid
13:41the abuser
13:42from our lives
13:43because I couldn't have
13:45him anywhere near them
13:46any longer
13:47of course
13:47and how did
13:48New Pathways
13:49help you do that?
13:51They have been
13:52absolutely amazing
13:53the specialist support
13:54that they offer
13:55has been life changing
13:56for me
13:57you know
13:57I'm still here
13:58because of them
13:59they offer special
14:01trauma counselling
14:03you know
14:04my counsellor
14:07helped me through
14:08the most painful
14:08of memories
14:09and you know
14:11helped me to
14:11understand myself
14:12and to see who I am
14:14beyond
14:15what I've been through
14:16and you know
14:18I am now living again
14:19I'm not afraid
14:19of absolutely everything
14:21and my children
14:23have a mum
14:24that is able to function
14:25that can do things
14:27because you know
14:28for such a long time
14:29after my disclosure
14:30and in the years
14:31leading up to it
14:32my mental health
14:33spiralled
14:33you know
14:34I was full of
14:36anxiety
14:37panic attacks
14:38nightmares
14:39flashbacks
14:40it was really horrific
14:41Nikki honestly
14:42it means so much
14:43for you to share
14:43the story today
14:45because I know
14:46it will help
14:47other people watching
14:48and if there are
14:48people watching
14:49this morning
14:50that really resonate
14:51with your story
14:52and have been through
14:52something similar
14:53what would you say
14:54to them
14:54please reach out
14:55when you're ready
14:56because there are
14:57support services
14:58out there
14:58that will help you
15:00you know
15:01there's strength
15:01and solidarity
15:02and knowing
15:03that you're not
15:03alone
15:04and you know
15:05a lot of what
15:05we've experienced
15:06has shaped us
15:07but it should never
15:08define us
15:09as you say
15:10it's important
15:10for people to reach out
15:12people can reach out
15:13to new pathways
15:14can't we
15:14we've got the
15:15website on the screen
15:16now for people
15:17to contact you
15:18and just to say
15:19as well
15:19as we're speaking
15:21we are having people
15:22calling into the studio
15:24your message is so powerful
15:25so thank you so much
15:27for coming in
15:27and telling us more
15:28Nikki, Jackie
15:29thank you
15:30Raph
15:32yeah it really was
15:34now we have
15:35another of our
15:36exclusive films
15:37looking at the work
15:38of an elite team
15:39across the UK
15:40and today
15:41we're in Wales
15:42following an operation
15:43to take down
15:44a gang
15:44supplying millions
15:45of pounds
15:46worth of heroin
15:51he looked like
15:52an ordinary guy
15:53ex-police officer
15:56I didn't realise
15:57that we were going
15:57to be stopping
15:58a UK-wide
15:59organised crime group
16:08in December 2021
16:10the regional
16:11organised crime unit
16:12Tarion
16:13were contacted
16:14by Police Scotland
16:15about a car
16:16doing regular trips
16:18up there
16:18from Cardiff
16:19vehicles with
16:21suspicious patterns
16:22of travel
16:23it can sometimes
16:24be an indicator
16:25to us
16:26that these persons
16:27are involved
16:27in organised crime
16:29police enquiries
16:31across the next few months
16:32revealed where
16:33the vehicle
16:34was travelling to
16:37the vehicle
16:38was doing
16:38around about
16:39a trip
16:40every month
16:41and the vehicle
16:41would travel
16:42into the
16:43Fazakli area
16:44of Liverpool
16:45and went to
16:47Fife
16:48in Scotland
16:48and or
16:50sometimes
16:52Blythe
16:52in Northumbria
16:54the vehicle
16:55then would travel
16:56back into
16:57the Liverpool
16:57area
16:58to a place
16:59called Walton
16:59and then back
17:00down to Cardiff
17:02the owner
17:03of the vehicle
17:04was 64 year old
17:05Stephen Creasy
17:07he did have
17:09previous convictions
17:10but nothing
17:10really that stood out
17:12on the surface
17:13he looked like
17:13an ordinary guy
17:15ex-police officer
17:16ex-navy officer
17:18who'd settled down
17:19in Cardiff
17:22DC Richards
17:24contacted
17:24Police Scotland
17:25and asked them
17:26to do a stop
17:27and search
17:27of the car
17:28the next time
17:29it was there
17:31Police Scotland
17:31stopped the vehicle
17:32near Glasgow
17:33on the M8
17:36Stephen Creasy
17:37was alone
17:38inside the vehicle
17:39and he wasn't able
17:40to give an explanation
17:41as to why he was
17:42travelling
17:42such large distances
17:44around the United Kingdom
17:46luckily on that day
17:47Police Scotland
17:48sourced a
17:49police dog
17:50who indicated
17:51under their front
17:52passenger seat
17:53of the vehicle
17:53the officers found
17:55a sophisticated
17:57metal hide
17:58which contained
17:59five kilograms
18:00of heroin
18:01a street value
18:02of £500,000
18:05so a large
18:07quantity
18:07of heroin
18:10Creasy
18:11was found
18:12with two phones
18:13at the same time
18:15he was arrested
18:16by Police Scotland
18:17and taken
18:17into custody
18:21Convinced
18:21he was part
18:22of something
18:23much bigger
18:23Creasy
18:24was placed
18:25on bail
18:25but Tarion
18:27officers
18:27continued
18:28the investigation
18:30Officers
18:31from Scotland
18:32provided me
18:32with the
18:32SIM card
18:33numbers
18:33for the
18:34two telephones
18:34that were found
18:35inside of the
18:36car
18:37one was a
18:38clean phone
18:39and was used
18:39for everyday
18:40business
18:40the other phone
18:41was a
18:42burner phone
18:43there was only
18:44six numbers
18:45that phone
18:46had been in
18:46contact with
18:47and that's where
18:48the investigation
18:49started
18:53I submitted
18:54communications
18:55data applications
18:56for all six
18:56of the telephone
18:57numbers
18:58and four of them
18:59were based
19:00in the Walton
19:01area of
19:02Merseyside
19:02Liverpool
19:03one of them
19:04was based
19:04in the
19:05Anstruther
19:05area of
19:07Fife
19:07in Scotland
19:08and the other
19:09in the Blythe
19:10area of
19:10Northumbria
19:11in England
19:12In other
19:13words
19:14the phones
19:15were in
19:15the exact
19:16locations
19:16that Creasy
19:17had been
19:18visiting
19:18In July
19:192022
19:20police
19:21discovered
19:22the identities
19:22of the
19:23individuals
19:23operating
19:24behind
19:24two of
19:25the phone
19:25numbers
19:26found
19:26on
19:26Creasy's
19:27burner phone
19:28The number
19:29that was based
19:30in Anstruther
19:30and Fife
19:31we managed
19:31to attribute
19:32to a male
19:33by the name
19:33of Christopher
19:34Heaney
19:37Heaney had
19:38previous convictions
19:38for drug
19:39trafficking
19:39offences
19:42The telephone
19:43number that
19:43was based
19:44in the
19:45Blythe
19:45area of
19:45Northumbria
19:46we managed
19:46to attribute
19:47to a male
19:48by the name
19:49of
19:49Geoffrey
19:49Hickson
19:50Geoffrey
19:51Hickson
19:51also had
19:52previous convictions
19:53for drug
19:54trafficking
19:54offences
19:56Due to the
19:57five kilograms
19:57of heroin
19:58found in
19:59Creasy's car
20:00when he was
20:00stopped near
20:01Glasgow
20:01police believed
20:03that he was
20:03delivering the
20:04heroin to
20:05Heaney
20:05and Hickson
20:06but who
20:07were the
20:07suppliers?
20:09I started
20:10to do work
20:12on the four
20:12telephone numbers
20:13which were
20:14based in
20:15the Walton
20:16area in
20:17Liverpool
20:18One of them
20:20belonged to
20:20a man
20:20called
20:21Christopher
20:22Brannan
20:24Christopher
20:25Brannan
20:25had previous
20:26convictions
20:26for drug
20:27trafficking
20:27as well
20:28He didn't
20:29have any
20:29financial
20:30footprint
20:30at all
20:31He
20:32wasn't
20:33registered
20:34at an
20:34address
20:35That definitely
20:37raised all
20:37my suspicions
20:38The phone
20:40data confirmed
20:40Brannan was
20:41in contact
20:42with Creasy
20:43Hickson
20:43and Heaney
20:44during key
20:45travel dates
20:45My hypothesis
20:47was that he
20:48was orchestrating
20:49the supply of
20:50heroin around
20:50the United Kingdom
20:51He was the key
20:53player in this group
20:57In September
20:58police had a further
21:00breakthrough
21:00when another Liverpool
21:02number was attributed
21:03to an individual
21:04called Stephen Hopkins
21:07Stephen Hopkins
21:08had previous convictions
21:10for drug trafficking
21:11Based on
21:12the travel patterns
21:14and everything we knew
21:14at that time
21:15we were understanding
21:16we were understanding
21:17a little bit more
21:17about who was
21:18working in which area
21:21Brannan was running
21:22the show
21:23from Liverpool
21:24Creasy was the courier
21:26picking up the drugs
21:27from Hopkins
21:29and driving them
21:30to the dealers
21:31Heaney
21:31and Hickson
21:34Creasy would then
21:35drive back to Brannan
21:36to drop off
21:37the drug money
21:41Now
21:41after almost a year
21:43of intense
21:43investigations
21:44Tarion
21:45were ready
21:46to make their move
21:53I went to
21:54Anstruther
21:58Mr Heaney
21:59was home
22:00inside the address
22:01I'm arresting you
22:02on suspicion
22:02of conspiracy
22:03to supply heroin
22:04There was a large
22:05amount of cannabis
22:06There was some cash
22:08an amount of opium
22:10a lot of mobile phones
22:12and sim cards
22:12also found
22:14and a set of car keys
22:17Two streets away
22:18I found the vehicle
22:20and just under
22:21a kilo of heroin
22:22under the passenger seat
22:26Those drugs alone
22:27were worth
22:28£100,000
22:29and were ready
22:30for onward supply
22:31This was a huge win
22:33for Tarion
22:34and confirmed
22:35that Heaney
22:36was a key player
22:37dealing heroin
22:38on a large scale
22:39We've got a warrant
22:40to search for panentists
22:42OK
22:42Well, are you going
22:43to be arrested?
22:44170 miles away
22:46in Blythe, Northumberland
22:47police also raided
22:49Hickson's house
22:51where they found
22:52more drugs
22:53phones
22:53and sim cards
23:01Meanwhile
23:02in Fazakali, Liverpool
23:03police raided
23:04Hopkins' house
23:05and found items
23:07pointing to heroin
23:08production
23:10Careful
23:12And in Walton
23:14police raided the home
23:15of suspected kingpin
23:16Christopher Brannan
23:18and arrested him
23:19While searching the house
23:22police discovered
23:23it wasn't only heroin
23:24he was dealing in
23:27In the attic
23:28was a small
23:29cannabis grill
23:29It was valued
23:31around about
23:31£20,000 to £30,000
23:34The raids
23:35were a huge success
23:36Not only
23:38had Tarion
23:39found
23:39irrefutable evidence
23:43But they had also
23:44got most of the crime
23:45group
23:48They now moved
23:50into arrest
23:50Creasy
23:51for a second time
23:52You're under arrest
23:53on suspicion
23:54of conspiring
23:54with others
23:55to supply
23:55class A drug
23:56namely
23:57diamorphine
23:58heroin
24:00The four suspects
24:01from Liverpool
24:02and Scotland
24:03were brought
24:04down to Cardiff
24:05The suspects
24:07I think
24:07were quite shocked
24:08that they were
24:09being arrested
24:10and then escorted
24:11back to South Wales
24:12Some of them
24:13had probably
24:13never been to Wales
24:14in their life
24:15When interviewed
24:16the suspects
24:17refused to give
24:18police any information
24:21Are you
24:22a supplier of
24:23class A drugs
24:25namely heroin?
24:26No comment
24:27When did you first
24:28meet Stephen Creasy?
24:30No comment
24:31Shaking your head
24:32no there
24:34No
24:34No?
24:35OK
24:36Do you wish to make
24:37any comment on that
24:37Christopher?
24:39My client's exercising
24:40his legal right
24:41to remain
24:41OK
24:45Following the interviews
24:46further lines of inquiry
24:48revealed
24:48the final member
24:50of the organised
24:51crime group
24:51a man called
24:53Kevin Thompson
24:55We were able
24:55to identify
24:56Kevin Thompson
24:57who was based
24:58in the Lock
24:59Galley area
24:59of Fife
25:01Police went
25:02to Thompson's house
25:03and waited
25:04for him
25:07And a number
25:08of hours had passed
25:09and Kevin Thompson
25:10just appeared
25:11from behind
25:12his home address
25:13there was a woodland area
25:14and he just walked
25:15out towards us
25:18Tarion had disrupted
25:19an organised crime group
25:21that had trafficked
25:2265 kilos of heroin
25:24across the UK
25:25worth
25:26over 8 million pounds
25:28I was relieved
25:32and just extremely
25:34extremely happy
25:36Our small team
25:37had dismantled
25:38an organised crime group
25:39All of our suspects
25:41were ultimately charged
25:43with conspiracy
25:44to supply heroin
25:46Unfortunately
25:47prior to
25:48sentencing
25:48Stephen Hopkins
25:49passed away
25:51whilst on
25:52remand
25:53However
25:55on the 3rd of September
25:572024
25:57Brannan
25:59Hickson
25:59Heaney
26:00Thompson
26:00and Creasy
26:02were sentenced
26:02to a total
26:03of 57 years
26:04and 5 months
26:05in prison
26:08Heroin is one
26:09of the most addictive
26:09and harmful drugs
26:11out there
26:11We know that
26:12heroin destroys
26:13our communities
26:14It destroys lives
26:15and families
26:17So to take
26:18an organised crime group
26:20who were trafficking
26:21such large amounts
26:22of heroin
26:22off the streets
26:23and put them
26:24behind bars
26:25is
26:26extremely rewarding
26:27for us
26:31Just an incredible
26:32operation
26:33and good to know
26:34that those
26:34Class A drugs
26:35are off the streets
26:36Now last year
26:37we ran an appeal
26:38with Merseyside Police
26:40to help them find
26:41the killer
26:41of 19-year-old
26:43Ellis Cox
26:43who was shot
26:44as he cycled home
26:46in June
26:462024
26:48Well I'm joined now
26:49by Ellis' mum
26:50Carolyn
26:51and his aunt
26:51Julie
26:52who are still
26:52doggedly campaigning
26:54to find out
26:55who was responsible
26:56Thank you so much
26:57to both of you
26:58for being here
26:59this morning
27:00Can we start
27:02Carolyn
27:02by talking about
27:03your son
27:04Ellis
27:04and what he was like
27:06Yes
27:07Ellis was
27:08beautiful
27:09inside and out
27:10He was
27:11funny
27:12caring
27:15I know it's hard
27:17You were such a
27:18and still are
27:19an incredibly
27:19close family
27:21and
27:22it's a really
27:23powerful message
27:24that you hear today
27:24because you are
27:25seeking justice
27:26for your son
27:27Ellis
27:27Julie
27:28I know it's difficult
27:29but can you
27:30take us back
27:31to the night
27:32of the shooting
27:33and remind us
27:34what happened
27:35Yeah of course
27:36So Ellis headed out
27:37to meet some people
27:39he knew from school
27:39for a bike ride
27:41and he met them
27:42halfway
27:42so we didn't see
27:43who it was
27:44who he met up with
27:45and they were
27:46heading to Southport
27:47and then we believe
27:48riding back
27:49he kept in constant
27:50contact throughout the
27:51day with all of us
27:52and consistently
27:54with his mum
27:54just to let him
27:55know where he was
27:56up until
27:57literally five minutes
27:59before he was
28:00heading for home
28:01which was
28:02heading towards
28:03the loop line
28:03and it was a
28:04two minute bike ride
28:05and he had been home
28:06He was so close
28:08to home
28:08and it was
28:09there at the
28:10Livre industrial estate
28:12where he was
28:12tragically killed
28:14and that is why
28:16you're here today
28:16because you are
28:17looking for answers
28:18what's even more
28:19heartbreaking
28:19with this
28:20is that he was
28:21a complete
28:22innocent in this
28:23wasn't he?
28:24Yeah that's right
28:26Ellis had never
28:27been in any
28:27trouble
28:28not a bit of bother
28:30and you know
28:31obviously
28:32the people
28:33who we were with
28:33that obviously
28:34we didn't know
28:36clearly were
28:37and we understand
28:37and we know
28:38that Ellis
28:38wasn't the target
28:39No
28:40and since then
28:41you as a family
28:42have been working
28:43tirelessly
28:44to keep Ellis'
28:46name in the
28:47public consciousness
28:48you want people
28:49to know
28:49about your son
28:50you want people
28:52to come forward
28:53with answers
28:53you've had
28:54banners and posters
28:56around the city
28:57display screens
28:59telling people
29:01about your son
29:02and information
29:03that you need
29:04to come forward
29:05Yes
29:06we just keep
29:07we keep going
29:08we do something
29:10every month
29:11we will not stop
29:13we will continue
29:14to do our appeals
29:15we want Ellis' face
29:17to be everywhere
29:18because
29:18we need justice
29:20for Ellis
29:21and
29:22you know
29:23we
29:24I beg
29:25the people
29:26who know
29:28the mums
29:29the dads
29:29the friends
29:31cousins
29:31who are still
29:33protecting these people
29:34they know who it was
29:36stop protecting them
29:38because
29:39they've taken
29:41a precious person
29:42away
29:43and the evil
29:45and the evil
29:45are still walking around
29:46and this could happen
29:47to somebody else
29:48because
29:48Ellis just went out
29:50on his bike
29:50and he didn't come home
29:52so
29:53stop protecting them
29:55stop assisting them
29:56because
29:57your child
29:58could be next
29:59this is the thing
30:00this is the thing
30:01Carolyn isn't it
30:01you're appealing
30:02to people
30:02who are watching
30:04this morning
30:05they could have
30:06that key piece
30:07of information
30:07yes
30:08that can give
30:09your family
30:10the answers
30:11that they
30:12really need
30:13as well as
30:14that there is
30:15a crime stopper's
30:16reward
30:16of £20,000
30:18and you
30:19are willing
30:20to match
30:20that
30:21for the right
30:22information
30:23that could lead
30:23to the conviction
30:24and arrest
30:25of Ellis' killer
30:26yeah
30:27that's correct
30:28you know
30:29we're grateful
30:29for that
30:30and the support
30:30of Berserside Police
30:31and Crime Stoppers
30:32and we want
30:34to be able
30:35to get
30:35you know
30:36justice for Ellis
30:38so
30:38when the reward
30:40was brought
30:40to us
30:41the first thing
30:43that we said
30:43was we would
30:44match it
30:44for
30:45the right
30:46information
30:46that leads
30:47to a conviction
30:48you can see
30:49just how close
30:50you are
30:50as a family
30:51and you are
30:52going to keep
30:53on campaigning
30:54aren't you
30:54you're going
30:55to keep
30:55pushing forward
30:56until you get
30:57the answers
30:57that you need
30:58Carolyn
30:58continue
30:59yes
31:00we always say
31:01we will never
31:02stop
31:02until
31:05the broader
31:06justice
31:07we will never
31:07stop
31:07whilst we're
31:08still breathing
31:09because
31:09this shouldn't
31:10have happened
31:11to my baby
31:13and
31:15why should
31:15they're evil
31:17why should
31:17they still
31:18be living
31:18their lives
31:19why should
31:20they still
31:20be seeing
31:21their mum
31:23when they've
31:24taken Ellis
31:24from us
31:25so
31:26we beg
31:27anyone
31:27who can
31:28help us
31:28because
31:29they need
31:30to be
31:30taken off
31:31the streets
31:32absolutely
31:33it's such
31:34a powerful
31:34message
31:35Carolyn
31:36Julie
31:37I know
31:37it's difficult
31:38and for you
31:39to come in
31:39this morning
31:40and share
31:41your beautiful
31:42memories of Ellis
31:43but also
31:44just push
31:44that message
31:45through
31:46the answers
31:47that you need
31:48and for people
31:49to come forward
31:49it means
31:50everything
31:51and hopefully
31:51we can help
31:52so thank you
31:53again
31:53thank you
31:54please
31:55if you do
31:56know anything
31:56about this
31:57horrific murder
31:58then get in
31:59touch with us
31:59you can get in
32:00touch with the
32:01police
32:01you can also
32:02get in touch
32:02with crime
32:03stoppers
32:04and you can
32:05watch the full
32:06appeal on
32:07our website
32:07please share
32:08it with those
32:09that you know
32:09who live in
32:10the area
32:11we need
32:12somebody
32:12to come
32:13forward
32:15please do
32:16and just a
32:16reminder
32:16don't wait
32:17till the end
32:17of the program
32:18the numbers
32:18are there
32:19the details
32:19are there
32:20they're at
32:20the bottom
32:20of the screen
32:21they are
32:21throughout the
32:22show
32:22if you can
32:23help with
32:23that appeal
32:24or any
32:24of the others
32:25please
32:25don't wait
32:26get in
32:27touch now
32:28now in our
32:28next film
32:29we are looking
32:30at restorative
32:31justice
32:32meeting a man
32:33who bravely
32:34came face to
32:34face with
32:35his twin
32:36brother's
32:36killer
32:40in the
32:41summer of
32:421998
32:42my identical
32:44twin
32:44Simon
32:45was murdered
32:52we grew up
32:53in rural
32:54Cumbria
32:54classic
32:55identical
32:56twins
32:56mum would
32:57always dress
32:58us the
32:58same
32:58we were
33:00kind of
33:01like a
33:01one
33:01a single
33:02person
33:02for
33:03probably
33:03about
33:04the first
33:04eight
33:04nine
33:04years
33:05of our
33:05life
33:09he'd
33:10been out
33:10with three
33:11friends
33:11that night
33:12and he
33:13decided
33:14having lost
33:15contact with
33:16his friends
33:16he decided
33:17to walk
33:17out of the
33:18club
33:18he wasn't
33:19very familiar
33:19with the
33:19area
33:20and he
33:21went the
33:21wrong way
33:22and saw
33:24these two
33:24young lads
33:26they led
33:26them into
33:27a dark
33:28park
33:29and at that
33:30point
33:30they proceeded
33:30to attack
33:31him
33:32they would
33:33beat him
33:33up
33:34they would
33:34knock him
33:34unconscious
33:35they threw
33:36him into
33:36the fishing
33:36pond
33:38and he was
33:39found the
33:39following morning
33:41by a man
33:41walking his
33:42dog
33:42and he
33:43drowned
33:49within two
33:50weeks
33:50we actually
33:52had an
33:52arrest
33:53which was
33:54a massive
33:55thing for
33:55the family
33:58they were both
33:59found guilty
34:00and they were
34:01found guilty
34:02of murder
34:02and it was
34:04such a relief
34:05and we cried
34:09you as a
34:10family
34:11you've then
34:12got to get
34:12on with
34:13your lives
34:15it's a very
34:16different life
34:18I kind of
34:20went into
34:20a bit of
34:21a deep
34:21dark depression
34:22if I'm
34:22honest
34:24it made
34:25me so
34:25angry
34:26so angry
34:29and I
34:30think
34:31it consumes
34:32so much
34:33of you
34:33you know
34:34that's
34:34you know
34:36you have
34:37this
34:37bubbling up
34:39hatred
34:40of
34:40feelings of
34:41revenge
34:41and anger
34:42and it
34:42consumes you
34:44as painful
34:46as it was
34:46going to be
34:47I needed
34:48to
34:49go
34:50I needed
34:51to unpack
34:53the night
34:54of Simon's
34:54death
34:57YME are a
34:58national charity
34:59and our aim
35:00is to promote
35:01awareness of
35:02and access
35:02to restorative
35:03justice
35:04so restorative
35:05justice is really
35:06about dialogue
35:07it's about
35:07letting someone
35:08who's been harmed
35:09by a crime
35:10or a victim
35:11talk to the
35:12person that has
35:13caused that harm
35:14so often that
35:15looks like a
35:16face-to-face
35:16meeting so those
35:17two people in a
35:18room having a
35:19conversation but it
35:20doesn't have to be
35:21it could be through
35:21a letter writing
35:23process or through
35:24videos being passed
35:25between them
35:26and it really just
35:27helps people
35:28affected by crime
35:29to get those
35:30questions answered
35:30and to get
35:31the closure
35:33they need to move
35:34forward with their
35:34lives and yeah
35:36repair some of the
35:37harm that's been
35:38caused
35:40it's a huge thing
35:42to meet up with
35:44the person that
35:45murdered your brother
35:47but for me it was a
35:48very important part
35:49of my journey
35:52it was an incredibly
35:53powerful meeting
35:56the thing that struck
35:57me was he was
35:58wanting to help me
35:59and he was wanting
36:00to own it and take
36:02responsibility for what
36:03happened
36:05there was no shirking
36:07of the questions that
36:08I asked him
36:09we talked about how
36:10we'd met Simon
36:11we talked about the
36:12attack
36:13I showed him pictures
36:14of the funeral and
36:15of the grave
36:16I showed him pictures
36:17of our 30th birthday
36:18and I needed to
36:20bring that impact
36:21to him and I
36:22needed him to
36:22understand what
36:24he'd done and how
36:25he'd destroyed and
36:27how it impacted our
36:28family and all
36:29Simon's friends
36:35restorative justice
36:36does reduce
36:37re-offending
36:37coming face to face
36:39with the harm that
36:39you've caused is not
36:40an easy thing to do
36:41and so the people who
36:42go through that process
36:43are often then less
36:45likely to cause that
36:46harm again
36:48there are going to be
36:49many people who are
36:50sitting at home having
36:51experienced a crime
36:52and are struggling to
36:54move forward
36:55just to know that that
36:56option is out there
36:57whether that's now or
36:58in 10 years time
37:00knowing that it's
37:01available means that
37:02they can then explore
37:03that when it's right
37:03for them
37:05the meeting helped me
37:06neutralize the attack
37:07on Simon or dissolve
37:08some of that intensity
37:10around it
37:11don't get me wrong
37:12I do have bad days
37:14I can have days where
37:16I've thought about
37:17Simon
37:18and I'll cry
37:21but you don't have
37:23that
37:23hatred or
37:26feelings of anger
37:27and revenge anymore
37:35just so powerful
37:37what Nick did there
37:38agreeing to meet up
37:39but he said it gave him
37:41so much closure
37:42you can see it was
37:43really important
37:44for him to do that
37:45wasn't it
37:45incredibly brave
37:47now recently
37:48the world record
37:50for the most
37:51expensive trading card
37:53ever sold at auction
37:53was broken
37:54a rare Pokemon card
37:56from 1998
37:57a Japanese promo
37:59Pikachu
37:59Illustrator card
38:01owned by YouTuber
38:02Logan Paul
38:03was sold for
38:04get this
38:0416.49 million
38:08dollars
38:08wow
38:09I mean I'm still
38:10trying to get my head
38:10around that
38:11that is something else
38:13you and me both
38:13launched 30 years ago
38:15these bits of card
38:16have become a serious
38:17target for thieves
38:18and recently have shown
38:19many thefts from
38:20retail outlets
38:22across the UK
38:23well we're joined now
38:25by Pokemon enthusiast
38:26and shop owner
38:27Amy Wasley
38:28and Professor of
38:29Criminology
38:29Emmeline Taylor
38:30thank you for coming in
38:31this morning
38:33Amy before we get
38:33on to the thefts
38:34can you just
38:35tell us a bit more
38:36about why these cards
38:37are so popular
38:38obviously the YouTube
38:40drive behind
38:42the popularity
38:43of the cards
38:44has spiked
38:45a lot of interest
38:46there is significant
38:48value in the cards
38:49and a lot of that
38:50comes from sparsity
38:51and kind of
38:53the desire
38:54to have them
38:55and that desire
38:56going up
38:57within consumers
38:58has kind of led
39:00to this exponential
39:01growth of the hobby
39:02and in such a
39:03short space of time
39:04the supply and demand
39:06has struggled
39:07to keep up
39:07okay so we've got
39:08some cards here
39:09Amy and we might
39:10not have any worth
39:1116 million dollars
39:12but there's certainly
39:13a range isn't there
39:14in the price
39:15or the value
39:16between these
39:16what sort of money
39:17could these be
39:18yeah so here on the
39:19table we've got
39:20anything between
39:20three pounds
39:21and a thousand pounds
39:23so we're looking
39:24at a really big divide
39:25but to the untrained
39:27eye as such
39:28you might not know
39:28which ones sit
39:29in the three pound
39:30bracket and which
39:31one sits in the
39:31thousands
39:32and it can be a
39:33really large scope
39:35between the two
39:36some that look
39:37expensive
39:38not being so
39:40and some that
39:40don't look expensive
39:41being much more
39:42than you would expect
39:42that's a game
39:43in itself isn't it
39:44spot the expensive
39:45card it'd be tricky
39:46to know
39:46do the three
39:47yeah hey hey
39:48easy
39:49but you've actually
39:50been targeted
39:51by thieves yourself
39:52haven't you Amy
39:53with this
39:53multiple times
39:54yes
39:55from break-ins
39:56overnight
39:56to daylight
39:58you know
39:58people just coming
39:59into the store
40:00and it's been
40:00it's really hard
40:02for businesses
40:02at the moment
40:03because there is
40:04no more restocks
40:05so if a thief
40:06comes in
40:07and steals my stock
40:08it could be up
40:09to three months
40:10before I could get
40:11more and then I
40:12have nothing to sell
40:12for three months
40:13of course
40:13oh that's awful
40:14isn't it
40:15Emmeline you are
40:17a professor of
40:17criminology
40:18and let me get
40:18this right
40:19acquisitive crime
40:20and you've studied
40:21this looked into
40:21this in detail
40:23what does that mean
40:24yeah so acquisitive
40:26crime are any
40:27offences that are
40:28committed for
40:30financial gain
40:31or for material
40:32goods
40:33so it's essentially
40:33stealing things
40:35and that could
40:36include burglary
40:36theft from the
40:37person
40:38and unfortunately
40:39as we're seeing
40:40a shoplifting
40:41epidemic
40:41across the UK
40:43so last year
40:44over half a million
40:45offences reported
40:46to the police
40:47but retailers say
40:48this is just a drop
40:49in the ocean
40:50compared to the
40:51reality of the
40:52level of crime
40:53that's being targeted
40:54at these stores
40:55and it's not just
40:56Pokemon cards
40:57is it
40:57there's other
40:58valuable collectibles
40:59like soft toys
41:00that there's
41:01theft attached to
41:02yeah that's right
41:03so this is seen
41:04as relatively
41:05high reward
41:06and low risk
41:07for offenders
41:08so it's caught
41:08the attraction
41:09of organised
41:10gangs
41:11that are now
41:11targeting specific
41:13items that they
41:13know that they
41:14can steal
41:15relatively easily
41:16so they're targeting
41:17smaller businesses
41:18now
41:18and they can sell
41:19them very quickly
41:20using e-commerce
41:21platforms
41:22they're largely
41:23untraceable
41:24they're small
41:25so they can steal
41:25in bulk
41:26so unfortunately
41:28this is a growing
41:28problem
41:29is that what you
41:29think their
41:30motivation is
41:30then
41:31because it's
41:32so easy
41:32to get in
41:33get out
41:33and perhaps
41:34the authorities
41:35may not look
41:36at this
41:36as seriously
41:37in their mind
41:38as some other
41:39crimes
41:39yeah so for career
41:40criminals
41:41they can see
41:41this is an easy
41:42target
41:43it's very lucrative
41:44and unfortunately
41:45as Amy has
41:46explained
41:47before we came
41:48on the show
41:48sometimes when you
41:49report this to
41:50the police
41:50it's just seen
41:51as quite trivial
41:52it's a game
41:53it's a few cards
41:54how can these
41:55have value
41:56in them
41:56but we're also
41:57seeing this
41:58with jelly
41:58cat toys
41:59for example
41:59any of these
42:00collectible items
42:01so I think
42:02we need to
42:02change the narrative
42:03about these
42:04are very valuable
42:05items
42:05so just quickly
42:06then how can
42:07people protect
42:07themselves
42:08if they have
42:08got things
42:09like this
42:10yeah so for
42:10businesses
42:11invested in
42:12technology
42:12CCTV
42:13locked cabinets
42:15all of that
42:15target hardening
42:16advice
42:17and for
42:18individual collectors
42:19treat this as
42:20you would a
42:21very expensive
42:22piece of jewellery
42:23or even hard
42:24cash
42:24and think
42:25about insuring
42:26your goods
42:27having them
42:28registered
42:28and documented
42:29really good advice
42:31I know you've
42:31taken extra steps
42:32yourself Amy
42:32to keep yourself
42:33safe
42:33thank you both
42:34for joining us
42:35today
42:36and I'm afraid
42:37that brings us
42:38to the end
42:38of today's
42:38programme
42:39and I should say
42:40if you've been
42:40affected by any
42:41of the issues
42:41raised today
42:41we have had
42:42some heavy
42:42subjects covered
42:43help is available
42:45at BBC
42:45Action Line
42:46and if you're
42:47interested in
42:47crime and
42:48detective work
42:48then do head
42:49to iPlayer
42:50for our sister
42:50series
42:51Crime Watch
42:52Court
42:52where we take
42:53a deep dive
42:54into some of
42:54the most
42:54complex
42:55investigations
42:56that police
42:57face
42:57but that is
42:58it from me
42:59this series
42:59Steph is going
43:00to be with you
43:01in the morning
43:01I'll be back
43:02with you
43:02in the autumn
43:02tomorrow
43:03an international
43:04crime group
43:05are locked up
43:06thanks to
43:06the determination
43:07of detectives
43:10Operation Matrix
43:11started out
43:11looking at
43:12someone very
43:12localised
43:13but how it
43:14developed
43:14and the things
43:15that came
43:16from that
43:16all of a sudden
43:17spanned out
43:18regionally
43:18nationally
43:19and internationally
43:19we'll see you
43:21for that
43:21and more
43:21same time
43:22at 10.45
43:23tomorrow
43:23bye for now
43:53we'll see you
43:53next time
43:53we'll see you
43:54next time
Comments