A Cruel Deception by Kim Booth - True crime
This is the musings of a retired police detective set in the 1970-mid 1980’s.
The main part of the story is about a couple who were duped into lending
money to a woman purporting to be the illegitimate child of the Duchess of
Argyll who needed the money before a large inheritance was sorted out.
When DC Booth begins to investigate so well has the woman prepared her
victims that she has warned them that “the police are likely to visit and it is
just the wrath of the family trying to set things against her”. The rest of the
story is about getting the couple to believe that she is a con artist and the
investigation in order to press charges, interspersed with other interesting
tales that PC Booth came across during the period or to demonstrate the
criminal minds of the time. I think this book would appeal to an older age
group who remember the period- a time of less mobility and certainly no
mobile phones. Some facts are repeated which labours the story a little.
An interesting tale of times gone by and how things were in a bygone
age. not so very long ago.
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Book Description:
'No one knows this horrifying true crime case better than the detective who cracked it. Kim Booth will take you on an unforgettable journey into lies, deceit, cunning and malice.' Nick Louth
For Joan and Ted Warner, an innocent and trusting couple, a chance encounter with Barbara Hendry, a cunning con-woman who turned their settled lives into a living nightmare
The Warners were not victims of a remote scam, carried out over the internet by fraudsters from afar. For six years, faking a friendship face-to-face, this plausible woman carried off the impersonation of a member of the nobility fallen on hard times, manipulating the emotions of her victims, deceitfully draining them of every penny they had set aside for their retirement, and plunging them into debt.
Hendrys intention was to slip away, having sucked the Warners dry of all their hard-earned savings. But for some dogged investigative work by a determined detective she would have succeeded- and remained free to prey on other vulnerable victims.
Follow this journey of fraud and depravity in the company of the one man who knows the full story - the British detective who cracked the case and brought Barbara Hendry to justice.
A Cruel Deception is an insightful and gripping work of true crime, which illustrates the depth of wickedness and the possibility that we can all be deceived.
The author retired from the Lincolnshire Police as Detective Inspector in charge of the Lincolnshire Police Economic Crime Unit. He now provides anti-fraud advice and fraud investigation on a consultancy basis together with assisting authors with police procedural issues and story lines.
Author Bio:
Prior to joining the police I had numerous jobs, Worked in a chicken factory for next to nothing, In a Bakery, Royal Mail as a Postman, With my dad who was a civil engineer construction roads and sewerage works and finally in a hotel. Had dealings with the CID and thought “I can do that” and joined the police with the sole intention of being a CID man! Joined Lincolnshire Police in July 1975.
Walked the streets in uniform for 18 months sorting yobbos out then given a car and latched onto drink drivers for a year then went into the CID at Louth in Lincolnshire for a year or so then Skegness for a summer season. Stayed in the CID for twelve years at various location including regional Crime Squad now National Crime Agency conducting static and mobile surveillance nationally dealing with murders extortions Kidnaps and the like then promoted to Uniform Sergeant for two years then back in the CID in the drug squad for four years as a Detective Sergeant, The next move was Detective Sergeant Special Branch dealing with all terrorist matter including surveillance, regional risk assessments on Economic Key points ie Oil and gas terminals, National Infrastructure Gas Electricity and Water and all Military establishments, threat assessments on high profile individuals such a Judges MP’s and witness protection subjects etc. Worked with the Security Services ie MI5 and MI6 and was a member of Home Office National Anti- Terrorism Exercise Programme setting up terrorist exercises both in the UK and abroad to test response of the local enforcement agencies. Promoted to Detective Inspector within Special Branch with 14 staff. Stayed there for five years then moved to Uniform Inspector in charge of the Lincolnshire Police Control room 36 staff dealing and resourcing whatever came in authorised to deploy firearms officers to incidents. Two years in there (more than enough!) the moved to be in charge of the Economic and Hi Tech Crime Unit dealing with all frauds , Internet Crime together with the Paedophile Unit and Proceeds of Crime Unit 27 staff, Stayed there for four years, retired on the Friday and started work the following Monday being the Senior Investigating Officer in charge of a $300 million fraud investigation involving 3300 investors worldwide, worked with colleagues in New Zealand, Japan, America, Hong Kong, Bahamas and Canada, The case concluded in 2010 I retired again! Went fitting UPVC windows with a mate. Did that for 9 months, wrote a book on fraud, did some qualifications at Uni then came to work for TUI (Thomson and First Choice)as a Corporate Security Manager investigating fraud within the travel industry, Hobbies- Property restoration, DIY and motor cycling. That’s a quick snap shot!
Three children, eldest son is a Police Officer in Lincolnshire. Middle daughter is a first aid trainer and the MK 3 model daughter is a primary school teacher. Met the wife on the docks at Boston Lincolnshire (where she was working as Policewoman I should add!)
Somethings you didn’t know?
(1)Whilst engaged in a terrorist incident and working in COBRA under Whitehall fell asleep on the Home Secretary’s bed! It was a 48 hour shift!
(2) Was engaged for two years putting MI5 and MI6 operatives through police interviews to test their legends (cover stories) under pressure, prior to deployment in foreign countries.
(3) Investigated 23 murders including two serial murderers, nine extortions and Kidnaps involving Sainburys, Imperial Tobacco and Mars and investigated and detected the only murder by postal IED (improvised Explosive Device) in the UK to date and a drugs related “contract killing”
4) As a Uniformed Inspector in the force control room covering Lincolnshire was authorised to deploy firearms officers to incidents but was considered not to be psychologically suitable to hold a Police Firearms permit to possess a firearm! Been a standing joke for years!!!
After retirement for the third time decided to write a few book of my experiences including a crime fiction loosely based on previous events (W.I.P.)
And the rest as they say is history!
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