‘Nipper’ Read, the detective who arrested the Krays, dies aged 95
THE SCOTLAND Yard detective who brought the Kray twins to justice has died at the age of 95, his family has said.
Former Detective Chief Superintendent Leonard Read, known to most as Nipper, arrested East London gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray in May 1968, after trailing the brothers for years.
The notorious criminals led an organised empire of protection rackets, violence and murder.
Read joined the Metropolitan Police in 1947 and was posted to the D Division, covering Regent’s Park, Marylebone, Paddington and Camden Town.
He rose through the ranks to become part of the team solving the Great Train Robbery in 1963, and the following year was transferred to the Kray case.
Read was promoted to detective Chief Superintendent in 1967 and posted to Scotland Yard’s murder squad, where he led the investigation into the brutal East End gang from which the Krays profited a fortune.
Their bloody reign ended in 1969 when they were both jailed for murder.
Ronnie Kray was convicted at the Old Bailey of the murder of George Cornell, while Reggie was locked up for the murder of Jack “The Hat” McVitie. The investigation was later reproduced in the film Legend, starring Tom Hardy.
In a tribute on Twitter, the Metropolitan Police Heritage Centre said yesterday: “We are sad to announce that Leonard “Nipper” Read QPM died this morning aged 95.
“A Met legend, he is best known for his part in bringing the Kray Twins to justice and his autobiographies hold places of honour in our collections.”
The British Boxing Board of Control, which Read used to chair, also paid tribute.
A statement yesterday said: “It is with great sadness that the British Boxing Board of Control has learnt of the passing of former chairman Mr Leonard “Nipper” Read,” general secretary Robert Smith said.
“Nipper was a wonderful servant to the British Boxing Board of Control and the sport of boxing.”