Catching Monsters by
David Bright
hbk out December 03
Published by Blake Pub
at £16.99
Catching Monsters starts with the arrest of a paedophile ring and ends
with the jailing of a blackmailer who threatened to contaminate apple
juice. What they, and all of the other cases in this book, have in common
is that they were vigorously investigated by Detective Superintendent
David Bright. He spent thirty three years in the police force, earning
numerous commendations and an MBE.
Bright examines some of his most harrowing cases here, such as when a
drug-dealing gang extensively tortured their enemies. Many of the
victims were so traumatised that they never fully recovered. One
unfortunate man became an enemy simply by sending a Christmas card to
a gang member's girlfriend.
The author also explores the crimes of the DJ rapist Richard Baker and
makes the point that this handsome young man had a different consensual
girlfriend for virtually every day of the week. His crimes, then, weren't
about sex but about power and he claimed at least a dozen victims, many
of whom spent weeks fearing that they might have AIDS because the
promiscuous Baker originally refused to take a test. Thankfully he
eventually changed his mind and was found to be HIV negative. The
globe-trotting young sex offender was given four life sentences though
Bright chillingly admits that within twelve years he'll be eligible to apply
for parole.
The detective was also in charge of a distressing case where a newborn
baby girl was snatched from her mother's hospital bedside. Thankfully,
after a tip off from a friend of the culprit, they got the baby back.
Catching Monsters is an interesting insight into a varied career during
which the author pays homage to the police and civilians who helped
him. As an added bonus he intends to give some of his royalties to
charity, including Rape Crisis and Victim Support.
Catching Monsters by
David Bright
