Page 214 - Once a copper 10 03 2020

The story got better still. A few days later Terry heard that Popeye was hiding
out at his mates house in Short Heath Road. His mate (aka Jolly) was also a
prolific burglar. At the house we were allowed in by Jolly’s mum, a fiery
Irishwoman who swore like a sailor every minute we were there. Confident we
would find nothing she allowed us to search the property. This was where I
was to learn a big lesson about how devious people will be when trying to
evade justice. In an upstairs bedroom I had a quick look around, saw a pile
of clothes in the base of the wardrobe no more than 12” high and thought
nothing of it. Terry came in and asked if I’d found anything. Before I could
answer we both saw the pile of clothing move slightly. Terry leaned forward
and pulled up the clothes revealing Popeye hiding, bent double like a circus
contortionist. Ever the magnanimous type, Terry gestured to me to nick him
which I did. Popeye, though small was built like a brick shit house. I didn’t
want the embarrassment of missing him first time compounded by him
escaping, so he got the bracelets (handcuffs) to wear back to the nick. In
fairness to Popeye, he was very apologetic when we told him his victim was a
pregnant single woman, and before putting him in the car, he told us where
all the stolen presents were.

I got the greatest pleasure restoring the stolen items to the unfortunate young
woman whose Christmas now looked decidedly happier. Popeye got six
months for that little escapade. The courts don’t like vulnerable women being
victimised. I was to meet Muscles and Jolly again on numerous occasions.

Figure 96 The CID Team 1985/6 (As a keen photographer, I took the photo!)
Front Row L/R DS Bernie Cheek, WPC Chris Gibson DCI Sid Law , DI ‘Cloughie Moore’ WDC Kerry Pemberton, DS Bob Sturdy
Middle Row: L/R DC’s Ian Jones, Ray Bird, Derek Forest, Brian ‘Beakie’ Breakwell, Jon Raby, Gordon ‘Olly’ Ollerenshaw, Page214
Back Row: L/R DC Dave Storr, PC Gavin Buckley, DC’s John Woolam, Mark Owen, Mark Webster, Cliff Wesley.