Linwood bank robbery
Encyclopedia
The Linwood bank robbery was a bank robbery
in Linwood, near Glasgow
, in 1969. Three police officer
s were shot in the aftermath, including two fatally, and two officers were later awarded George Medal
s. The lead robber, Howard Wilson, served 32 years in prison for the robbery, the murder
of two police officers and the attempted murder
of a third; he was parole
d in 2002.
branch in Bridge Street, Linwood. The leader of the gang was Howard Wilson, a former police officer who had resigned disillusioned at his lack of promotion and now had debt problems, and the others were John Sim, a policeman-turned-salesman, and Ian Donaldson, a car mechanic.
Shortly after robbing the bank, a City of Glasgow Police
officer, Inspector Andrew Hyslop, spotted them unloading the loot (which amounted to around £14,000) from a car into a flat in Allison Street, Glasgow; Hyslop just happened to be passing and was not yet aware of the robbery but thought they were acting suspiciously. When he investigated with some of his colleagues, Wilson pulled out a handgun and shot three officers, all in the head: Hyslop, Acting Detective Constable Angus MacKenzie, and Police Constable Edward Barnett. Another constable, John Sellars, took refuge in the flat's bathroom and radioed for backup. As MacKenzie lay wounded on the floor, Wilson held the gun to his forehead and shot again; he was about to shoot Hyslop again when he was tackled and disarmed by Police Constable John Campbell. MacKenzie died at the scene and Barnett in hospital a few days later, while Hyslop's injuries confined him to a wheelchair
for life.
, the first time anyone had pleaded guilty to a double murder charge in Scotland, and one count of attempted murder
. He was sentenced to life imprisonment
with a minimum tariff of 25 years. Sim and Donaldson were jailed for 12 years each for their roles in the robbery; Sim had witnessed the shootings but taken no part and Donaldson had fled the scene.
Campbell and Hyslop were both later awarded the George Medal
for their bravery, while Barnett and MacKenzie were posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal
. Hyslop was forced to retire from the police force due to his injuries; he died on Islay
in November 2000, aged 74. A family-friend told how for every night until his death the former Inspector had been haunted by the shootings of his colleagues in Allison Street.
It is widely believed that the same gang had violently robbed the British Linen Bank in nearby Williamwood for £20,000 a few months earlier, along with a fourth man, getaway driver Archibald McGeachie. The subsequent whereabouts of McGeachie remain unknown and there is a rumour that he is buried in the pillars of the Kingston Bridge
in Glasgow, perhaps killed by Wilson when he refused to take part in the Linwood robbery.
Wilson, whose crime occurred two weeks after the death penalty was abolished, was released on parole
in September 2002, aged 64, after serving nearly 33 years in prison. In jail he wrote a number of crime novels, including a best-seller entitled Angels of Death which won a Koestler award
.
Bank robbery
Bank robbery is the crime of stealing from a bank during opening hours. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of...
in Linwood, near Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, in 1969. Three police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s were shot in the aftermath, including two fatally, and two officers were later awarded George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
s. The lead robber, Howard Wilson, served 32 years in prison for the robbery, the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of two police officers and the attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
of a third; he was parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
d in 2002.
Robbery
On 30 December 1969, a gang of three robbers attacked a Clydesdale BankClydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank is a commercial bank in Scotland, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank Group. In Scotland, Clydesdale Bank is the third largest clearing bank, although it also retains a branch network in London and the north of England...
branch in Bridge Street, Linwood. The leader of the gang was Howard Wilson, a former police officer who had resigned disillusioned at his lack of promotion and now had debt problems, and the others were John Sim, a policeman-turned-salesman, and Ian Donaldson, a car mechanic.
Shortly after robbing the bank, a City of Glasgow Police
City of Glasgow Police
The City of Glasgow Police was the police of the City of Glasgow, Scotland. In the 17th century, Scottish cities used to hire watchmen to guard the streets at night, augmenting a force of unpaid citizen constables. On June 30, 1800, the authorities of Glasgow, successfully petitioned the British...
officer, Inspector Andrew Hyslop, spotted them unloading the loot (which amounted to around £14,000) from a car into a flat in Allison Street, Glasgow; Hyslop just happened to be passing and was not yet aware of the robbery but thought they were acting suspiciously. When he investigated with some of his colleagues, Wilson pulled out a handgun and shot three officers, all in the head: Hyslop, Acting Detective Constable Angus MacKenzie, and Police Constable Edward Barnett. Another constable, John Sellars, took refuge in the flat's bathroom and radioed for backup. As MacKenzie lay wounded on the floor, Wilson held the gun to his forehead and shot again; he was about to shoot Hyslop again when he was tackled and disarmed by Police Constable John Campbell. MacKenzie died at the scene and Barnett in hospital a few days later, while Hyslop's injuries confined him to a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
for life.
Aftermath
Wilson eventually pleaded guilty to two charges of murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, the first time anyone had pleaded guilty to a double murder charge in Scotland, and one count of attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
. He was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
with a minimum tariff of 25 years. Sim and Donaldson were jailed for 12 years each for their roles in the robbery; Sim had witnessed the shootings but taken no part and Donaldson had fled the scene.
Campbell and Hyslop were both later awarded the George Medal
George Medal
The George Medal is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage...
for their bravery, while Barnett and MacKenzie were posthumously awarded the Queen's Police Medal
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
. Hyslop was forced to retire from the police force due to his injuries; he died on Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
in November 2000, aged 74. A family-friend told how for every night until his death the former Inspector had been haunted by the shootings of his colleagues in Allison Street.
It is widely believed that the same gang had violently robbed the British Linen Bank in nearby Williamwood for £20,000 a few months earlier, along with a fourth man, getaway driver Archibald McGeachie. The subsequent whereabouts of McGeachie remain unknown and there is a rumour that he is buried in the pillars of the Kingston Bridge
Kingston Bridge, Glasgow
The Kingston Bridge is a balanced cantilever dual-span ten lane road bridge made of triple-cell segmented prestressed concrete box girders crossing the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. The largest urban bridge in the United Kingdom, it carries the M8 motorway through the city centre...
in Glasgow, perhaps killed by Wilson when he refused to take part in the Linwood robbery.
Wilson, whose crime occurred two weeks after the death penalty was abolished, was released on parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
in September 2002, aged 64, after serving nearly 33 years in prison. In jail he wrote a number of crime novels, including a best-seller entitled Angels of Death which won a Koestler award
Koestler Trust
The Koestler Trust or award scheme,is a charity which helps prison inmates and detained psychiatric patients in the UK to express themselves creatively. The trust promotes the arts in special institutions, encouraging creativity and the acquisition of new skills as a means to rehabilitation...
.
See also
- List of British police officers killed in the line of duty
- List of bank robbers and robberies