The Pembrokeshire Murders: Catching the Bullseye Killer

by Steve Wilkins

  9, Hazel Grove – 5th November 1992

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied bungalow which backed onto fields. Cooper kicked in the bottom panel of the back door and stole over £1,600 worth of jewellery, and spare keys to the house and the car. The keys were found in the cesspit of his home. Muddy footprints were recovered at the scene. PC Mike Callas attended the scene with a police tracker dog, ‘Bruce’. The dog picked up a scent over the fence of the premises, onto the bridle path, down towards Hazel Hill House, across past the pumping station, and ending in Waterston fields, in the direction of Cooper’s home address. He gave a ‘no comment’ interview but maintained in evidence that he had never been down the bridle path and the keys found at his property had been given to him as some were made of brass.

  Glenhill Cottage – 11th November 1993

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied two storey cottage in a country lane surrounded by fields, next door to Glenowen Cottage (scene of another burglary). The back door was forced and muddy boot prints were found on the carpet. Jewellery stolen from the property was found at Cooper’s home address and at Scoveston Fort. This is important as it links Cooper to Scoveston Fort. At the time of the Scoveston Park murders jewellery from robberies in the area was also found at Scoveston Fort. ‘No comment’ interview but in evidence the defendant stated that Scoveston Fort was used as a ‘back garden’ by a number of burglars he knew and that the items recovered at his home were given to him over time. Scoveston Fort was only a few hundred yards from Scoveston Park and from Cooper’s home address.

  22, Hazel Grove – 29th October 1994

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied property backing on to a bridle path. Forced entry, with jewellery taken from the bedroom. Earrings and a pendant were later found at Cooper’s home. In interview, he stated that he had bought the earrings from a shop. In evidence, the defendant maintained that the earrings were given to him by a man, and given to his daughter.

  Castle Pill Crescent – 18th November 1994

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied bungalow backing onto fields. Over £4,000 worth of property, including jewellery, was taken. Items were recovered at the home address of Cooper where, again, he stated in evidence that he had bought them. An internal light was on, woollen glove marks were found at the scene, a dog handler was called and a trail followed to a railway line and on to a point parallel with Scoveston Park heading in the direction of Cooper’s home address.

  ‘The Cranny’ – 10th December 1994 & 14th October 1995.

  An evening burglary at an unoccupied bungalow surrounded by fields, this property was entered on two separate occasions. The first burglary involved forcing a front bedroom window and attempting to break into a locked firearms cabinet. Jewellery and a Samsonite bag were taken. The second burglary involved forcing a back window and a further attempt to get into the gun cabinet, with a packet of French-made 12-bore cartridges and two ‘buck’ knives being stolen. The defendant maintained that he had bought the bag and that the jewellery recovered at his daughter’s house was nothing to do with him, although coins taken and recovered at his home were part of his collection. The sheath to one of the ‘buck’ knives was found discarded on the Sardis robbery trail in 1996.

  School Cottage – 26th January 1995

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied bungalow surrounded by fields, which faced a lane. Some months after the burglary, as a result of cattle straying, they found that barbed wire had been cut at the property near where a torch had been left. A car key was taken, along with a purse. In evidence, Cooper maintained that the key (which was found in the boot of his car) was one of many he kept as he often acted as a ‘Good Samaritan’ helping people locked out of their cars. He did not know how he came to be in possession of it, or for that matter, the purse that was found at his address.

  ‘The Cotswolds’ – 15th April 1995

  Burglary of an unoccupied property backing onto fields. Over £2000 worth of jewellery was stolen. The rear patio doors had been forced with an instrument. An old, de-commissioned shotgun was also stolen, along with cartridges, foreign coins and a set of darts. A security light had been snapped off. The occupant had not used the shotgun for some time, although still kept 17 or 18 Italian-made cartridges, bought twenty years earlier, in a plain box in the bedroom. In a biscuit box recovered at the defendant’s premises, 8 of the occupant’s Italian cartridges were recovered. Knives (of distinctive design) and coins also stolen in the burglary were recovered in Cooper’s shed and car. He, again, maintained he bought these items innocently.

  10, Hazelgrove – 31st July 1995.

  Burglary of an unoccupied house, with fields to the rear. Forced entry via rear patio doors where jewellery, cash and, significantly, tools were stolen, some found at Cooper’s property. He maintained that he had bought the tools and box at a market in August or September 1995.

  9, Lighthouse Drive – 14th September 1995

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied secluded house with the coastal path at the rear. Entry was gained by forcing the rear patio door with an instrument. Jewellery was stolen along with an air rifle and a pair of size nine boots. Jewellery was found at Cooper’s home address. He maintained in evidence that he had previously bought some of the jewellery from another man, the coins were his and the remainder belonged to his wife.

  Edmoor Bungalow – 18th/19th September 1995

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied secluded bungalow surrounded by fields, the rear boundary of the property having a hedge backing on to fields. Wire in the hedge was cut to gain access to the property. Jewellery and cash taken. A Timex watch was recovered at the property that did not belong to the occupiers and was dropped by the offender. A personal photograph recovered at the home of Cooper's daughter showed John Cooper wearing an identical watch, and it was later identified as his by his wife who subsequently retracted this assertion. Cooper denied the watch was his.

  ‘The Gables’, Sardis Cross – 18th October 1995

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied dwelling house located opposite fields. The kitchen window had been forced and jewellery was stolen together with a hip flask that was found at Cooper’s home address. He maintained that he had bought the property from another man.

  Rushmoor Farm – 7th November 1995

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied dwelling located opposite fields, next door to another attacked property, Westbury Hill. Entry was gained through a forced side window. Jewellery was taken including a set of silver spoons that were recovered from Cooper’s home address. Cooper maintained in evidence that they had been given to his family as a gift, contrary to his interview assertion that he had bought them.

  29, St Marys Park – 21st November 1995

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied dwelling located opposite fields. The property is situated near to the Cooper’s own home address (number 34). Windows and a rear patio door were forced with an instrument. Jewellery and a pair of Chinese padlocks were stolen. The padlocks were recovered in the cesspit at Cooper’s home. He made a ‘No comment’ interview.

  3, Lucy Walters Close – 12th December 1995

  An evening burglary at an unoccupied isolated dwelling surrounded by fields, this is the home address of Cooper’s niece and goddaughter. Entry was gained by forcing a rear patio door and Christmas presents were taken. Some items were found discarded in a nearby field, other presents were found at Cooper’s home address. Female underwear was also stolen. Mark Jenkins, a police dog handler, tracked across fields in the direction of Cooper’s home address. Cut fences were found nearby giving access to the fields.

  89, Honeyfields – 22nd December1995

  An evening burglary at an unoccupied dwelling surrounded by fields with a hedge at the back. Barbed wire in the rear hedge was cut giving access to the garden; the rear patio door was forced with an instrument. Jewellery, cash and keys were taken. Muddy footprints (and glove marks) found at the house. Keys recovered at Cooper’s home address fitted the
occupant’s car. Cooper maintained that the keys had been given to him by another man. A Nursing Times book stolen from the house was also recovered at the Cooper’s home.

  43, Hazelbank – 4th-6th January 1996

  An evening burglary of an unoccupied property partially surrounded by fields with a hedge at the back. Front door forced, jewellery taken. Some items (e.g. earrings) recovered at Cooper’s home. Cooper denied knowledge of them, but his wife maintained they belonged to her. A hole had been cut in rear hedge and a rope and wire cutters were found nearby.

  9, Ardent Close – 11th February 1996

  An evening burglary at an unoccupied secluded bungalow, partially surrounded by fields with a hedge at the back. The rear patio doors were forced with an instrument. Watches, documents, a wallet and a wetsuit were taken. The wetsuit was found at Cooper’s home. He maintained that he had bought it from a man at Gelliswick Beach (near Milford Haven).

  16, Bunkers Hill, Steynton – 23rd February 1996

  Burglary of an unoccupied property which had a rear garden sloping down towards a stream and then fields. Jewellery and a pair of size nine Brasher boots were taken. Property recovered from field nearby. ‘No comment’ interview.

  23, Castle Pill Crescent – 1st March 1996

  An evening burglary at an unoccupied detached bungalow with fields to rear. Amongst jewellery and videotapes taken, was a double-barrelled Bruno shotgun and cartridges. A steel firearms cabinet had been forced open. The gun was found in a sewer pipe at the Cooper’s home address, buried under the duck run in a black bin bag and preserved in oil. The serial number had been ground off and, significantly, the stock had been sawn off. Noticeably, a replacement screw (that stood proud and was not flush with the gun) had been inserted into the gun. This modification is identical to that of the gun used on the Sardis armed robbery; its function was to attach a lanyard. The occupant positively identified the shotgun as his. The videotapes later identified were found near Scoveston Fort, other items in a field nearby. Cooper blamed two local men, stating they had approached him in Coombes Drive asking whether he wanted to buy a gun for £200. He said he refused, so they threw the gun in a bag, into the back of his car. He said that he intended to dispose of it but was ‘frightened and drove home before hiding them at his property. He later stated that he had tried to put the gun together to shoot ducks. PC Mark Jenkins gives details of track followed by dog relating to this offence, leading towards Cooper’s property. Items of jewellery stolen from this burglary were recovered in the same location as a single woollen glove BB/109 (this glove would later become significant).

  ‘The Nook’, Crossways – 22nd March 1996

  An unoccupied property adjacent to ‘The Cranny’ (previously the subject of a burglary). Front window forced entry, the house was ransacked. Bags, purses and a charity box taken but nothing recovered. However, green woollen fibres were recovered at the point of entry, brown polypropylene fibres by damaged patio doors, and in a gap in the rear hedge where the fencing wires in the hedge had been cut. These fibres would be matched to points of entry at other burglaries in the series in which property was recovered from Cooper, therefore linking the offender to the offences. ‘No comment’ interview.

  5, Roebuck Close – 4th-8th April 1996

  An evening burglary at an unoccupied dwelling house surrounded by fields. Jewellery and a Head rucksack were taken. The rucksack was found on the trail left by Cooper as he fled the scene of the Sardis robbery. Brown polypropylene fibres found at the point of entry matched fibres recovered from the points of entry of other burglaries in the series. Cooper gave a ‘No comment’ interview.

  Westbury Hill – 4th-9th April 1996

  An evening burglary at an unoccupied detached, modernised farmhouse surrounded by fields. Rear window forced entry, with a farm gate used as a ladder to facilitate access. Jewellery along with other items, including video cassettes, were taken and recovered at Cooper’s property. There was also evidence of cut fences nearby. Cooper stated in evidence that he did not know where these items came from.

  3, Penry Point – 2nd October 1996

  An evening burglary at an unoccupied detached house with fields to the rear. The rear patio doors had been forced with an instrument. Jewellery and a portable television set taken. Items of jewellery were found in a field near to Cooper’s home address. He maintained in evidence that some of the items he had bought by himself and others belonged to family members.

  Glenowen Cottage – 23rd-27th October 1996

  A dwelling situated on a lane backing onto fields, entry being gained through a kitchen window at the front of the house. A video recorder, personal stereo and television set (amongst other items) were taken. The video and personal stereo were recovered from Cooper’s home, the television set from another family member, given to them by Cooper. Cooper stated that he had bought the television and stereo from two local men.

  9, Bunkers Hill – 31st October 1996

  This count should be seen in conjunction with the next burglary at 28, Castle Pill, Milford Haven, as both properties are located close together and were burgled on the same night. This was an evening burglary of an unoccupied bungalow backing onto fields on Halloween night. A police dog trail ultimately led officers from the burgled premises to a gate directly opposite the defendant’s home address. Quantities of jewellery were stolen. Some of the items were recovered at Cooper’s home address. Cooper again maintained that they were his belongings, having bought them at some point before the burglaries.

  28, Castle Pill Road, Steynton – 31st October 1996

  Burglary with intent to steal of an occupied bungalow, where, at approximately 7 p.m., the lone female occupant noticed one of her bedroom doors open. On investigation, she saw that the bedroom window blind had been damaged and the window forced open. There was evidence that someone had forced open the rear garden gate, the inference being someone had rushed out over the garden and into fields behind to escape. As stated above, police being called, a police dog with handler PC Mark Jenkins followed a trail from the premises, over fields and to a gate directly opposite the defendant’s home address. A map demonstrated the route of the dog trail and a cut fence in a hedge to facilitate a more direct escape route. The route took the dog across fields and across the access lane of Scoveston Park Farm. In fact the dog handler spoke to Cooper, whom he knew. Cooper denied knowing anything about the burglaries and said his own dog had been disturbed.

  ‘Westwinds’, Sardis – 22nd November 1996

  This offence concerns an armed shotgun robbery inside the occupant’s home. The property, a detached bungalow, is situated at the end of a row of bungalows and is flanked by a field to the south. This offence has significant similarities to elements of the attack on the children at Milford Haven and the Scoveston Park murders, if accepted that this probably started as a robbery on a lone female (Helen Thomas). The robbery occurred at about 7.50 p.m., the occupant was in her living room awaiting the arrival of her husband, and the front door was unlocked. She was alone when a male entered the living room, wearing an army camouflage-type jacket, a balaclava, and brandishing a sawn-off shotgun. He wore white trainers, covered in mud. He shouted to her, words to the effect of “get down”, “are you on your own”, “don’t look at me”, “where’s the jewellery” and “I want money”, before physically attacking her by striking her to the face and body with the firearm (Gwenda Dixon and the male victims of Milford Haven robbery/rape were struck about head with a firearm or blunt instrument). He confronted her in the living room and then dragged her into the bedroom and covered her head with a pair of jeans. (A shirt was found around neck of Helen Thomas, and the victim of Milford Haven rape was made to cover her head with her clothing). The defendant then tied up Mrs Clark (hands behind her back) before striking her. The defendant then searched the house for money and valuables. A quantity of jewellery and a handbag were taken. As the defendant fled, the victim pressed a panic button that sounded the alarm. The def
endant left through the front door and over a bank where wire had been cut in the fence to the property. A witness saw a man, still wearing a balaclava, fleeing the scene and chased him before being confronted with a gun, enabling him to escape. The route taken by the man from the scene was followed by PC Mark Jenkins and his dog. The route passed through thorn hedges that would have potentially caused injury to the offender as he fled the scene. On the Monday after the robbery, Cooper had scratches and facial injuries, witnessed by a neighbour.

  Along that route, in a hedgerow, a number of items were recovered, and can be summarised as follows:

  Shotgun (exhibit PH2)

  The stock was sawn off in an identical manner to the gun recovered from under Cooper’s duck run and stolen from 23, Castle Pill, Milford Haven. A new screw had been inserted through the trigger guard and stock of PH/2 and secured to the top tang. The screw also stood ‘proud’, as per the repair and modification to the gun from Castle Pill. A screw, the tip of which was broken, was recovered from Cooper’s garden shed. That screw, in the opinion of the firearms expert Ian Johnson, “almost certainly originated from the gun” at the position where the new screw had been inserted. It had the same semi-circular pattern on the head and thread as the other screws and fitted snugly into the recess. A short length of cord attaching the rope-sling to the end of the stock was similar to a length recovered from Cooper’s home. It was made of the same nylon, had the same weave, the same thickness and was put together in the same way. There was black paint on the gun similar to black paint found on Puma trainers that were found in Cooper’s shed.

  Two Cartridges (MDS 1 and JR19)

  Both were live shotgun cartridges. They were Maionchi cartridges similar to some of the cartridges recovered from under Cooper’s duck run.

  Threaded Tool – a home-made jemmy (MTJ10)

  There was black tape securing the rope to the tool and the Allen key head. It was identical to the black tape recovered on the plastic box of cartridges buried under the duck run and a roll of tape recovered from Cooper’s home. A black tape mark was also found at the point of entry in the burglary at Glenowen Cottage in October 2006, and there was black tape on the torch abandoned at the scene of the Sardis robbery. Beneath black tape on the tool were brown polypropylene fibres identical to those found at the scenes of seven of the burglaries. This again provided a scene-to-scene link. The Allen key was identical to two other Allen keys recovered from the Cooper’s garden shed. There is no doubt that this tool was the instrument used to force the patio doors.