POLICE CORRUPTION PROBE OVER GUNS SOLD TO COP KILLER
FROM LAWYERS FOR WIDOW
The failings suggest a gross error of judgment or high-level corruption
Widow demands inquiry into Met’s plea for light sentence
EXCLUSIVE
BY TOM PETTIFOR and MICHAEL GILLARD SCOTLAND Yard has launched a probe into claims of “corruption at a high level” over the supply of guns used to murder a security guard and one of their own officers.
Gangland informant Brynmor Lindop was sentenced to just two years despite being arrested with enough firearms to “equip a small army”.
A Sunday Mirror investigation revealed in January how his Met Police handler had briefed a trial judge that Lindop was a valued “snout”.
As a result of our findings, the Met’s anti-corruption command has now launched an investigation.
Lindop had been arrested by detectives probing the 1993 shooting of 44-year-old PC Patrick Dunne and civilian William Danso, 31.
PC Dunne was attending a domestic incident in Clapham, South London, on his bicycle when he heard gunshots from across the street. Gangster Gary
Nelson, then 23, had gunned down Mr Danso on his doorstep and shot PC Dunne in the chest and left him to die as he fled with two other men.
Detectives later found evidence that Lindop had supplied the guns – along with former Met officer Sydney Wink.
Wink shot himself after his home was raided, while Lindop got a light sentence after detectives put in a word for him.
Nelson is serving life for the double murder. The new inquiry came after lawyers for Mr Danso’s widow Deborah wrote to the Met calling for a probe.
They said: “Our client is deeply troubled by recent evidence regarding the background to the death of her husband.
“She makes a complaint that the MPS covered up (or alternatively failed to take any steps to investigate and bring to justice) Lindop and Sydney Wink for the supply of the murder weapons to
Gary Nelson. Our client also complains of the decision making that must have been by senior officers in submissions to the trial judge to give a light sentence.
“These failings suggest a gross error of judgment and/or the involvement of police corruption at a high level.”
Documents reveal Lindop, a former doorman and convicted armed robber, was authorised by senior Scotland Yard officers to participate in police stings on drug gangs in London and Liverpool.
Four months after he was arrested, in July 1994, the Flying Squad raided the home of Wink, 66, in Ilford, East London.
Reportedly suspected of converting hundreds of guns that were sold to criminals, he shot himself in the head a few days later – knowing officers had a wealth of evidence implicating him.
Lindop was shot dead outside his home in Goodmayes, North-East London, in January 2002.
Scotland Yard confirmed the case has
been referred for investigation.