Moors murders author: Investigators have been looking in the wrong place

RUSSELL Edwards, the man who has spent the last seven years investigating and trying to find the grave of Keith Bennett, believes people have spent many years “looking in the wrong place.”

The author from Birkenhead, Wirral, discussed the latest as police revealed they have not yet found human remains following the reported discovery of what Russell believes to be Keith’s skull 60 years after he was killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

Speaking with Anne Diamond and Stephen Dixon on their breakfast show on GB News, Russell explained why he was drawn to a particular location in the Moors and how everybody else was “looking in the wrong place”.

He said: “They’ve been looking at Hoe Grain and Shiny Brook, where Myra Hindley said they took Keith. But, I’ve been helped by one of the former authorities on the story, and she gave me all the information many, many years ago. Our paths crossed on the Ripper work actually and I said our pathways were meant to cross.

“She gave me information that really led me – to putting the pieces together in great detail. Ian Brady told Peter Topping after the first visit that he wanted to go and specifically look at Eagle Rock and the view of the reservoir. When the landowner took me out to show me the murder scenes, where the bodies were discovered, I’ve got to say I’m very sympathetic to this. 

“He pointed out Eagle Rock to me and it all just fitted in. Keith has got to be near John Kilbride, the second victim.”

Russell focused his search on the Eagle Rock area of the moors, where Brady is thought to have revisited with a former GMP detective after his imprisonment in 1966.

Russell continued: “I firmly believe that the boys are buried one side and the girls are buried the other (in the land).

“Something that’s very significant was car parking spaces. There’s only two-lane traffic, so you’re not going to put your car on the main road. So you’re going to park your card to the side, where one parking space is and where John is and where we found the evidence of Keith’s remains and on the other side round the corner is where they found Lesley Ann Downey. So that is how I put it all together.”

Russell, who is described as having a lifelong obsession with unsolved cases, contacted Greater Manchester Police at 11.25 am on September 29, claiming he had found the skull of 12-year-old Keith. 

The teenager was one of five youngsters killed by Ian Brady and his partner Myra Hindley in the 1960s. He disappeared on 16 June 1964 while on his way to see his grandmother in Manchester. 

The infamous couple tortured and killed five youngsters over a period of two years and buried four of their victims on Saddleworth Moor in the Pennines but Keith’s body is the only one that has not been recovered.

Since Russell’s claims, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed they were searching the famous Saddleworth Moor following reports of suspected human remains being found.

Speaking more about his discovery, Russell said: “We were looking for elements in the summer that shouldn’t be there and on that assessment, we got calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, so evidence of skeletal remains.

“It was me that actually found that spot through seven years of relentless work. On the day we found what looked like material, hair, and tissue, that’s what’s left in the body outside of the skeleton and we took a sample of that and gave it to the police.”

Russell went on to explain that an archaeologist confirmed that the teeth discovered matched someone who was of similar age to Keith as it only had one molar.

Crimestoppers Scotland launches County Lines campaign

Exploitation of vulnerable people highlighted in new campaign to tackle County Lines drug dealing in Scotland

The charity Crimestoppers has launched a new campaign in partnership with Network Rail and British Transport Police to highlight how criminal ‘County Lines’ gangs target young people and exploit them to carry cash, drugs and weapons. 

The campaign aims to raise awareness of County Lines, which is when criminals expand their drug networks to Scottish cities and towns, bringing serious criminal behaviour such as violence, exploitation and abuse.

The term County Lines refers to the use of a single telephone number to order illegal drugs, operated from outside the local area.

This is having a massive impact on Scotland’s towns and cities and also on vulnerable young people and adults who are being exploited. Young people often transport cash and drugs all over the country, so that the criminals behind them can remain detached and are less likely to be caught.

Many travel by public transport, which is why Network Rail has pledged their support by raising awareness of the problem and are encouraging staff and passengers to become familiar with the signs of exploitation.

The gangs often set up a base in a rural area for a short time, taking over the home of a vulnerable person by ‘cuckooing’ and use adults and children to act as drug runners.

Law enforcement across the UK, including here in Scotland, has made significant arrests of people involved in this type of activity. Many vulnerable adults and children who have been coerced into these activities have been safeguarded.

The campaign, supported by Network Rail, will use a series of `spot the signs’ posters, postcards and social media tools to help raise awareness of the issue across Scotland.

Angela Parker, Scotland National Manager for the independent charity Crimestoppers, said: “County Lines isn’t necessarily a term people are familiar with, but as a charity it’s important we raise awareness of this issue and help tackle it.

“Gangs coming into our communities here in Scotland, are not welcome. We want to ensure that if they do decide to set-up their operation here, that your information can help get them removed and keep our communities safe.

“When you contact us, we won’t judge or ask any personal details. All we want to know is what you know. We guarantee you’ll remain 100% anonymous. Always.

“If you have any information about people who have recently moved into Scottish communities to sell drugs, please contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the simple and secure anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.”

Minister for Community Safety Ash Regan said: “I welcome today’s launch of this important campaign. Raising awareness of the threats posed by County Lines gangs is a key element in tackling organised crime and reducing the harm it causes to our communities.

“The Scottish Government, along with partners on Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, is committed to continuing to bring to justice those who supply illegal drugs and cause untold harm to some of our most vulnerable individuals and communities.

“I would like to thank Crimestoppers and our other partner agencies for their determined efforts to take illegal substances off Scotland’s streets and to dismantle the groups responsible.”

Allan Brooking, Senior Community Engagement Manager at Network Rail said: ‘Network Rail is delighted to be supporting Crimestoppers’ County Lines campaign. Our Company plays a vital role in connecting people across Scotland, so it’s hugely important to us to help safeguard young people at risk of, or being exploited by, criminals.

“Our partners at BTP and staff across the organisation have been equipped with information on what to look out for and we will be sharing the campaign at stations and with passengers.

Detective Superintendent Garry Mitchell of Police Scotland: ““Police Scotland officers work hard to keep our communities safe and make the country a hostile environment for organised criminals to operate.

“Exploiting the most vulnerable people, including children, is the approach of those who operate County Lines. They intimidate, coerce, threaten and use violence to groom young people and force them to transport, store and sell drugs for their own nefarious benefit.

“We will continue to work in partnership with Crimestoppers, Network Rail and British Transport Police to safeguard individuals who are recognised as being at risk and are grateful for their support.

“If you have information about anyone involved in County Lines, and importantly anyone who may be at risk, please get in touch with police or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Detective Superintendent Gareth Williams, British Transport Police’s County Lines Taskforce lead, said: “County lines gangs target young and vulnerable members of society and exploit them to run harmful drugs between locations, which can be hundreds of miles apart.

“As a force we are dedicated to identifying and safeguarding those exploited in this crime type to pull them out of harm’s way and away from a life of crime. Our specialist teams are working across the railway network in Scotland, and the entirety of the UK, every day to make it a hostile environment for drug suppliers to operate. 

“Successfully combatting this offending requires a collaborative approach, not only with our policing colleagues but with the rail industry and the third sector. Crimestoppers’ anonymous reporting service is integral in this work as it provides us with crucial information we use to target and apprehend county lines gangs.”

Renee MacRae: Justice At Last

An 80-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of Renee and Andrew MacRae in the Highlands in 1976. William MacDowell was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Inverness on Thursday.

Renee and Andrew MacRae

Renee, 36, and her three-year-old son Andrew left their home in Inverness on November 12, 1976, heading south on the A9.

Their BMW car was discovered on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry later that evening. Neither Renee nor Andrew have been seen since and their bodies have never been found.

MacDowell was arrested in September 2019 after an extensive review and re-investigation carried out by detectives from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team and local officers, building on decades of work carried out since 1976.

On behalf of the family, Morag Govans, Renee’s sister and Andrew’s aunt, said: “Almost 46 years on, the pain of losing Renee and Andrew in such a cruel and brutal fashion never fades.

“Today there is finally justice for them. It’s a day we feared would never come.

“They were both so precious to us and a day never passes without them both in our thoughts.

“Renee was a compassionate and caring mother. Both Andrew and his elder brother Gordon were her life. She adored them and was so proud of her boys.

“Andrew would be 48 today, he was never given the chance to build his own life.

“The passage of time has not eased the anguish we feel, we have never been able to lay Renee and Andrew to rest or properly mourn their loss.

“Not knowing where their remains lie only compounds the pain.

“Thinking of the terror they both must have felt before they died continues to haunt us.

“We will never comprehend why their lives had to be taken in such a calculated and callous manner by William MacDowell (below).

“If he has a shred of decency in his body, he will now reveal where they both lie.”

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes said: “Renee and Andrew’s family, and friends, have waited decades for justice and I hope that the outcome in court today can provide some form of closure for them.

“They have carried themselves with absolute dignity throughout and they are very much in my thoughts today.

“The murders of Renee and Andrew MacRae have had a significant impact on people in Inverness, and beyond for decades.

“It is fitting to know that despite the passage of time, justice has finally been served.”

He added: “Although justice has now been done, Renee and Andrew’s bodies have not been found and I would urge anyone who may have information about where they are to come forward so they can be provided with the dignity they deserve.

“In particular I would appeal directly to William McDowell to speak to us and allow to bring closure to their family.”

The investigation into the disappearances of Renee and Andrew MacRae has been one of Scotland’s longest running and enduring cases and has been subject to an ongoing police investigation since the events of November 1976.

Latterly it was subject to an extensive review led by detectives from Police Scotland’s Major Investigations Team, which initially commenced in 2017, and a re-investigation started in 2018.

This review and re-investigation involved assessing all the available material gathered over more than four decades, reviewing previous witness statements and where possible re-interviewing people who had given information about the case. All modern investigative techniques were considered and applied where appropriate.

The enquiry also involved a major operation in 2019 to drain and forensically search Leanach Quarry near Inverness for evidence. This involved removing more than 100,000 tonnes of material, with more than 5,000 tonnes subject to a thorough search by specialist officers over a five month period. Even though no evidence was found at Leanach Quarry, this was a significant line of enquiry which had to be exhausted.

William McDowell was ultimately arrested in Cumbria in September 2019 as a result of the extensive enquiries into the disappearances of Renee and Andrew MacRae.

Appeal for information following assault and robbery in Bruntsfield

Police in Edinburgh have released images of a man that they wish to speak to as they believe he may have information that can assist with an investigation into an assault and robbery.

The incident took place in the early hours of Monday, 28 June, 2021, at Whitehouse Loan near to the junction of Bruntsfield Crescent, Edinburgh.

A 22-year-old man was threatened with a knife and had personal items stolen from him. 

The man shown in the images is described as Asian, in his late teens to early 20s, around 5ft 9 to 5ft 10 inches in height, slim build, short dark hair and wearing a dark hooded jacket, light grey t-shirt, blue jeans and dark trainers with white soles.

Detective Constable Euan Chancellor of the Violence Reduction Unit, Gayfield CID, said: “This incident was highly distressing for the victim and we are eager to trace the man pictured.

“Knife-crime such as this is of the utmost concern to police in Edinburgh so I would urge anyone who may recognise him to get in touch with us as soon as possible.”

Members of the public can contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting reference number 25 of 28 June 2021, or if they wish to remain anonymous, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Appeal for information following Edinburgh housebreaking

POLICE are appealing for information after jewellery and war medals were stolen in a housebreaking in Edinburgh.

Between 10pm and midnight on Saturday, 17 September, 2022, three people, dressed in dark clothing and wearing balaclavas, forced entry to a house in Napier Road, Merchiston. They stole various items, including a safe which contained jewellery and war medals.

Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries and are reviewing any relevant CCTV from the surrounding area for any additional information on the suspects.

Enquiries carried out so far have established the suspects broke into the rear of the property and left by the front door, getting into a dark coloured car, which drove off towards Colinton Road.

Detective Constable Scott Lynas said: “The medals and jewellery are of great sentimental value and family members are shocked and upset that the items have been stolen.

“I am appealing to anyone who has any information to get in touch. I would also ask people to contact us if they become aware of anyone trying to sell or pass on items of jewellery or medals.

“No matter how insignificant your information may seem to you, please do pass it on, your information could be the link that helps us identify the suspects and enable us to return the items to their rightful owners.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 1226 of 18 September, 2022. Alternatively, please pass your information confidentially to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police appeal for information after campervan stolen in Murrayfield

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information after the theft of a campervan in the Murrayfield area.

The blue Volkswagen California van, registration VMS 321 was reported stolen from outside a property on Succoth Gardens around 2am on Thursday, 15 September.

Entry was gained to the property and the keys removed before the vehicle was taken and driven away. The campervan remains outstanding.

Detective Sergeant Craig McMillan said: “Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing and I would urge anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area or who believes they have seen the campervan is asked to get in touch.

“You can pass on information by calling 101, quoting reference 0225 of 15 September.”

Man sentenced to 15 years for sexually abusing children at Edinburgh home

A 75-year-old man has been ordered to serve 15 years in prison for sexually abusing children more than 40 years ago.

Brian Dailey (below) was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Thursday, 15 September) after carrying out the crimes while employed at a school in the Colinton area of Edinburgh.

He subjected boy and girls, aged between 7 and 12, to sexual abuse over several years between 1969 and 1979, and was convicted in August at the High Court in Glasgow.

Detective Inspector Jim McLauchlan, from the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “I cannot underestimate the courage and patience with which the victims have waited for justice.

“Dailey may have thought he was safe from prosecution but today’s sentencing is the culmination of a lengthy and complicated investigation.

“It does not matter how much time has passed, victims can be reassured that they will be listened to and we will thoroughly investigate any reports to ensure perpetrators are held to account.”

Police appeal for information after Community Garden shed set ablaze

Detective are appealing for information following a fire in the Wester Hailes area in the early hours of Monday morning.

Around 2.50am on Monday (12 September, 2022) officers received reports of a shed on fire at the Murrayburn and Hailesland Community Garden.

The fire is being treated as suspicious and no-one was injured, however, an estimated £13,000 worth of damage has been caused.

Detective Sergeant Alan Sharp, of Costorphine CID, said: “Thankfully no-one was injured as a result of the fire.

“This fire caused a great deal of damage to the shed and its contents, although it is fortunate it didn’t spread further and cause even more destruction.

“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and we are appealing for anyone with information or saw any suspicious activity in the area to please come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 0948 of 12 September. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.

A spokesperson for Murrayburn and Hailsland Community Garden said: “Appreciate the support from everyone last night. 🙏 Sorry to say we lost our children’s natural play shed which was set light to, and play materials and a load of new tools that Tesco had just donated to the garden.

“It’s a blow for all the young folk who helped build the shed in the first instance. A punch to the guts.

“We’ll put things right and use this as an opportunity to improve on what was already there. Onwards!”

Peter Coshan murder: body found

Officers investigating the murder of Peter Coshan, 75, have recovered the body of a man in Northumberland.

The body was found on land close to the A696 near the village of Kirkwhelpington this morning (Sunday, 4 September).

He is still to be formally identified but Mr Coshan’s family has been made aware.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts remain with Peter’s family at this incredibly difficult time and we are continuing to provide them with support.

“I would like to take the opportunity to pass on our thanks to everyone who has come forward with information which has helped our investigation.”

Two men, aged 27 and 63, have previously been arrested and charged in connection. Both have already appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Community support funding announced for people of Liverpool

The Home Secretary has announced a £150,000 package to support the communities of Liverpool and Knowsley in the wake of the tragic shootings in the city. This will provide specialist trauma informed support in nearby schools, as well as mental health provisions for those closely affected.

Following the horrific killings of Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale and Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Merseyside within a week of each other, the Home Secretary also announced £350,000 to expand the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ pilot to other areas in Merseyside affected by Serious and Organised Crime.

The pilot sees both a proactive policing response and multi-agency working to support communities worst affected by Organised Crime Groups to make them more resilient and less susceptible to their activities.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The whole country has been appalled at the spate of violence in Liverpool over the past couple of weeks, which has tragically left 9 people dead, including 9 year old Olivia.

The impact on the wider community is immense, which is why we are providing funding for specialist trauma and mental health support for those who need it, as well as expanding the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ pilot to disrupt Merseyside’s corrosive and deadly Organised Crime Groups.

We will stop at nothing to drive down serious violence and ensure that fewer families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one in this way.

Established in the Birkenhead area of Merseyside in January 2022, the pilot has focused on making sustainable reductions in firearms and knife crime offences, whilst improving community confidence and delivering preventative programmes to over 2,000 young people in the area.

Priti Patel made the announcement on a visit to Liverpool on Friday where she met with Merseyside Police’s Chief Constable, to receive an update on the investigation, and then with the local policing commander to understand the impact the violence has had on the community and what resilience plans are being put in place.