Page 20 - Top Cover Issue 9

20 TOP COVER ISSUE 9

coming to the correct conclusion to be greater than those on one me and get me into the building with minimum intrusion. Inside,
elderly, naïve and liberal Judge and I was up for the fight. During Jacqui along with two of 19’s Fed reps and my legal team, would
the inquiry, SO19’s SFO teams together with colleagues from the meet me and discuss the case over coffee.
DPG had put together a slick operation to get all of the police Similar arrangements were made to get my partner, family
witnesses in and out of court discreetly and without press intrusion, and friends into the public gallery without any cross association.
but now the game had changed. I reconciled myself to losing my Aside from being a massive weight lifted from my shoulders, it
anonymity but hoped, in vain, that I might at least keep my face was hugely reassuring to see that visible support every day, both on
from the papers. Twice an SFO team put detailed plans together the street when I arrived and left and whenever I looked up to the
to get me in and out of court unseen but with limited success and, public gallery to see friends and colleagues, some of whom I hadn’t
by the time it came to trial, both my name and my face were in seen for over twenty years. As we stood for the Judge to leave the
the public domain but, while I was now on offer, I wasn’t prepared court at the end of every day, I’d look up from my bullet proof glass
to jeopardise the safety and anonymity of my new partner or my box and if I felt up to it, I’d give the international ‘Do you fancy
teenage step-daughter. a drink?’ sign and the Op Edge ‘Expendables’, as they’d become
Once again the Federation jumped in and, supported by the known, would quickly modify the exfil plan to get me to a nearby
PFOA, and much to the annoyance of the press, funded my bail hostelry where I could thank my supporters over a pint or four. The
accommodation at the Federation’s Leatherhead HQ. At least now whole trial turned into the largest and longest SO19 reunion in its
I could keep my new family’s life separate from my own until the forty-seven year history and also explains the beer gut you can see
trial was over. The worst-case scenario had to be faced and I was in all the press photos!
forced to sell assets so that my partner could afford our shared I had always believed that the CPS decision to prosecute me had
mortgage on her own income. Wills had to be changed and a Power been taken on the basis that they felt unable to ignore Holland’s
of Attorney drawn up so that she could handle my affairs in my finding at the public inquiry and were too weak to stand by their
absence. I had left Edgar Brothers when it became apparent that own 2006 decision. I had total faith in my defence team, headed by
I would be charged leaving me unable to visit Ian Stern QC, who drove a bus through their
police units while on bail. I needed a job nearer case and I knew by the jury’s body language as WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN!
home with less travelling and so I accepted a hearing the words they entered the court for the final time that
security job in London and took a substantial we’d won but hearing the words ‘Not Guilty’
drop in wages. Both of my children from my ‘Not Guilty’ triggered triggered an unbelievable wave of relief. I had
earlier marriage had grown up; my daughter been determined to go ‘none emotional’ when
was living with her husband and my grandson an unbelievable wave it came and I just about managed to pull
in another part of the country and my son, a of relief. it off. Op Edge whisked me away to a pre-
Royal Marine, was often away but both shared reconnoitred pub and I drank and drank but
the stress of not knowing whether their Dad somehow remained sober. The following day in
would end up in prison. Throughout the whole an uncanny bit of forward planning by Mark
ordeal though, we’d all had fantastic support from the PFOA who Williams, my partner and I found ourselves at the PFOA Ball; it
had funded meals, theatre tickets and weekends away to at least try really was brilliant timing and there couldn’t have been a better
and make the whole experience more bearable. way to finish the ordeal than being surrounded by friends and
As the trial loomed closer I was in constant contact with Jacqui colleagues who understand that the ‘Critic doesn’t count,’ and by
from 19’s PIP team and barely a day went by when she didn’t call, good people ‘who’s place shall never be with those cold and timid
even if it was just to see how I was getting on. Jacqui was also my souls that know neither victory nor defeat!’
link to 19’s bosses and the teams and, as the trial date loomed closer, One of the most common questions I get asked is ‘Did the job
it was obvious to me that there would be little that the SFO teams look after you?’ SO19’s bosses? Yes, definitely. The big bosses at the
could do to support me throughout the trial without compromising Yard? The jury’s still out on that one. Let’s wait and see. Needless
their own anonymity. It was then that I was approached by TP, to say, in a case as complicated as the one surrounding the shooting
a former team member who runs his own security company. He of Azelle Rodney, there are still a few twists and turns to be ironed
wanted to help in anyway he could and Operation ‘Edge’ was born. out, some of which you may read about in the news in the months
Using 19’s old boys network, TP and ‘Scowler’, his 2 IC, solicited to come. Elements of the press still insist on describing him as
the help of over fifty former members of SO19 and a handful of being unarmed, and so my life and the death of a greedy, selfish,
other willing volunteers who offered their services free of charge violent criminal seem destined to be for ever inextricably linked. I
for the duration of the trial. Collectively they would ensure that am already aware of at least one career opportunity missed because,
daily, after a counter surveillance sweep of my address, I would I was told, if the potential client was to Google my name, it might
be picked up and driven to an RV where one of four black cabs result in the loss of a valuable contract but for all that I am free and
would be waiting. Driven by former team members, who also confident that the truth will eventually out, even if I have to write
now held cabbies’ badges, they would deliver me through the rush it myself … watch this space! ■
hour traffic to the Old Bailey where a reception party would meet