Former Sussex Police detective reveals stories behind some of the county's most fascinating and harrowing cases
A former Sussex Police detective has revealed the stories behind some of the county's most fascinating and harrowing cases during a talk raising money for Worthing's oldest charity.
Author and television crime advisor Graham Bartlett was the guest speaker at Sight Support Worthing's Cream Tea & Crime event at the Charmandean Centre on Monday, March 30.
Graham, who lives in Hassocks, spoke of his 'irresistible calling' to policing, inspired by his uncle. He started working at Sussex Police in 1983 and said his time as a detective in Brighton and Hove was the most enjoyable time in his life.
He detailed a case he said was particularly relevant, as the victim lost his sight. The man vanished while parking his car and was later found badly beaten. His shop had been burgled and £72 was stolen from the safe.
Graham said: “He lost his sight and his life changed immeasurably. That was one of the most impactful investigations because of the futility of it and the impact on the innocent, hard-working victim.”
More details of the case are revealed in Death Comes Knocking, a book Graham wrote with author Peter James about policing Roy Grace's Brighton.
Graham said murders often had sad stories behind them and spoke of an 18-year-old woman who had stabbed her violent partner but was 'absolutely the victim'.
He told the story behind Babes in the Wood, a second book he wrote with Peter James. Details about the Brighton case had to be withheld from Death Comes Knocking due to the re-arrest of Russell Bishop but the 20-year quest for justice was later expanded into a book of its own.
After Graham retired from the police as Divisional Commander at Brighton, he began developing his writing to produce his own fiction novels, based on his experience.
He said: “I wanted to tell it from a different perspective to the way other people tell their crime stories. I wanted to tell it from the perspective of a senior police officer and thought, so I don't tell it autobiographically, make that senior police officer a woman, so I'm telling it from a different lens. It worked really well.”
Bad For Good was his first book, followed by Force of Hate and City On Fire. Were his DS Jo Howe stories to be made into a television series, Graham said he saw Keeley Hawes in the lead role.
Organiser Myra Jasper, head of fundraising events, said: “More than £700 was raised on the day for Sight Support Worthing. All funds raised help us to continue to provide vital services to those living with sight loss and visual impairment.”
Future SSW events include a charity golf day at Worthing Golf Club on April 30 and a plant and bake sale at the Rowlands Road headquarters on May 15. Visit sswcharity.org.uk for more information.