The Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC) is reviewing the convictions of three more individuals feared to have been fitted up by Britain's most corrupt police officer, the Mirror can reveal.
Derek Ridgewell's Pattern of Racist Corruption
Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell, who died in prison at age 37, is believed to have framed dozens of innocent black men in a racist campaign of corruption during the 1970s. His victims include the Stockwell Six and the Oval Four, who were wrongfully convicted on his evidence.
A British Transport Police (BTP) review conducted in 2020 was only nine pages long, despite concerns that many innocent men were jailed. The reviewing officer stated they were 'unable to identify any further cases Ridgewell and his colleagues were involved in due to the passage of time and the various retention policies of the day.'
New Reviews and Victim Impact
If the three new cases are referred to the Court of Appeal and quashed, the total number of known victims would rise to 16, with another case already due to be heard in court. Solicitor Matt Foot, of law charity Appeal, said: 'These cases would not have got here had it not been for the bravery of the families to take their cases to the Court of Appeal. Further work still needs to be done to identify and locate other victims.'
One of Ridgewell's victims, Winston Trew, now 75, spent nearly 50 years clearing his name. He was one of the Oval Four arrested in 1972 at the tube station for allegedly stealing handbags. They were beaten and jailed for eight months for assaulting an officer, but their convictions were overturned in 2019. Mr Trew said: 'It does not surprise me at all that other convictions are being reviewed. I believe there could be more than 100 victims.'
Failures in the Initial Investigation
The Mirror obtained a copy of the BTP's internal investigation into Ridgewell, completed in 2020. The report revealed the BTP failed to scour records and identified other officers who 'colluded' with Ridgewell but were not quizzed. The report accepted there are 'victims of gross miscarriages of justice' who should get 'full and unreserved public apologies,' but the author added: 'It is unfortunate the relevant records are no longer available as I have been unable to identify further cases.'
After the Mirror's probe, the BTP said it was 'reviewing records' into Ridgewell's 'corrupt practices' and looking for 'officers who were associated with Ridgewell or may have assisted him in his criminal activity.' It also said 'additional resources' had been ploughed into the investigation.
Ridgewell's Criminal History
Glasgow-born Ridgewell moved to Bromley, South East London, as a boy and joined the BTP in his teens in 1964. After a brief stint with the Rhodesian Police, he returned to the UK and began framing young, mostly black men for 'mugging' on the Underground, beating them if they resisted. In February 1972, he arrested four men at Waterloo station, but the case was thrown out due to his unreliable evidence. A month later, he arrested the Oval Four, who were jailed for eight months before their convictions were overturned in 2019.
The BTP was criticised for failing to sack Ridgewell in 1973 when a series of prosecutions were dismissed over allegations of corruption. Magistrates were 'so disturbed by the allegations against Ridgewell that they said there should be an investigation.' Instead, he was moved to a department investigating mailbag theft, where he teamed up with criminals to split profits from stolen post and helped steal lorry loads of goods from the Bricklayers Arms Goods Depot. The proceeds of his crimes are believed to be around £4 million in today's money.
Ridgewell was eventually caught in 1978 following a major BTP probe, convicted of conspiracy to rob, and jailed for seven years in 1980. He died in his cell of a heart attack in 1982.
Ongoing Investigations
BTP Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle said: 'We can confirm that BTP is continuing to review records relating to the corrupt practices of former BTP Detective Sergeant Derek Ridgewell. This includes those relating to officers who were associated with DS Ridgewell or may have assisted him in his criminal activity. The review team has recently been provided with additional resources to support its work. The review is considering historic investigations and convictions from the 1970s in London and South England to establish whether there are any further potential victims of corruption.'
