Supergrasses professional criminals, often armed robbers, who were caught red-handed and willing to turn informer against their fellows in return for a reduced sentence were a hugely valuable crime fighting asset during the 1970s and 80s.
But this is the riveting inside story of a supergrass with a difference. Donald Walter Barrett was caught for a serious offence and, having turned supergrass, received a reduced sentence and then, following his release went on to commit more ruthless armed robberies amounting to £1.6 million. The more shocking involved the use of proxy bombs where an explosive device was attached to the victim who was told it would be detonated by remote control if he failed to comply with the robbers demands. Using this method, Barrett took an employee of a cash depository and his family hostage overnight, before raiding the depot and stealing £480,000 cash.
Following his sensational arrest for a robbery of gold bullion, Barrett became the Metropolitan Polices one and only double Supergrass. The Author, a much published and respected crime writer, was one of the Met Flying Squad officers who debriefed Barrett.
The thrilling book features Barretts wide-ranging associates including Bertie Smalls and The Wembley Mob, George Ince (whose lover, Dolly Kray provided an alibi) and a whole assortment of colourful and professional career criminals.
Dick Kirby was born in the East End of London and joined the Metropolitan Police in 1967. Half of his twenty-six years service was spent with Scotland Yards Serious Crime Squad and the Flying Squad. Kirby contributes to newspapers and magazines on a regular basis, as well as appearing on television and radio. The Guvnors, The Sweeney, Scotland Yards Ghost Squad, Brave Blue Line, Death on the Beat, Scourge of Soho, Scotland Yards Flying Squad, Londons Gangs at War, Scotland Yards Gangbuster, The Mayfair Mafia, Scotland Yards Murder Squad, Racetrack Gangs, IRA Terror on Britains Streets, Scotland Yards Casebook of Serious Crime, The Brighton Police Scandal, Missing Presumed Murdered and Killers, Kidnappers, Gangsters and Grasses are all published under the Wharncliffe True Crime imprint and he has further other published works to his credit. On retirement he lives near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Kirby can be contacted via Pen & Sword Books.
