Ep 4. John Straffen: Britain's Longest Serving Prisoner

John Straffen: Britain's Longest Serving Prisoner is an episode of Fred Dinenage Murder Casebook season 2. This episode tells the story of John Straffen, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in the early 1950s. Straffen was one of the most notorious criminals in British history, and he spent more time in prison than any other prisoner in the country.

The episode begins with a recap of Straffen's criminal history. He was born in 1930 and had an IQ of only 63. He was sent to a boarding school for mentally handicapped children, where he was physically abused and sexually assaulted by other students and teachers. His experiences at the school had a profound effect on him, and he became increasingly violent and anti-social as he got older.

Straffen's first known crime was committed when he was 17 years old. He broke into a farmhouse and attempted to rape a young girl, but was caught by the girl's father and taken to the police. He was imprisoned for this crime, but was released after serving only 18 months.

In 1951, Straffen commit his first murder. He was working as a laborer on a farm when he attacked a young girl named Brenda Goddard. He raped and strangled her, and then left her body in a ditch. The police were able to link Straffen to the crime through a series of fingerprints, and he was arrested and charged with murder.

Straffen was found guilty and sentenced to death, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment due to his mental condition. He spent the next 56 years in prison, during which time he committed several other violent crimes.

The episode recounts the details of Straffen's life in prison. He was housed in Broadmoor Hospital, which is a high-security psychiatric hospital for prisoners. Straffen was considered to be one of the most dangerous and difficult patients ever housed at Broadmoor, and he was frequently put in isolation for his violent behavior.

The episode also explores the controversy surrounding Straffen's imprisonment. Many people, including Straffen's lawyers, argued that he should have been released from prison or transferred to a less restrictive facility, given his age and declining health. However, others maintained that he was still a danger to society and should be kept locked up.

In 2007, Straffen died in prison at the age of 77. He is still remembered as one of the most notorious criminals in British history, and his case has influenced mental health policy and criminal justice in the country.

Overall, John Straffen: Britain's Longest Serving Prisoner is a compelling and thought-provoking look at a notorious criminal and the impact he had on the criminal justice system in the UK. The episode raises important questions about mental health, rehabilitation, and punishment, and is sure to be of interest to viewers who are fascinated by true crime and criminal psychology.