Ex-cop Peter Bleksley slams Police Scotland over unsolved murder of Alistair Wilson

Daily Record

a day ago

The police investigation into the murder of Nairn banker Alistair Wilson more than 20 years ago has been criticised by former detective turned TV presenter Peter Bleksley.
Former undercover cop and star of Channel Four's hit show Hunted has launched a scathing attack on the police's handling of their investigation into the murder of banker Alistair Wilson.
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Peter Bleksley - who spent more than 20 years with the Metropolitan Police - says it's is a case that could have and should have been solved years ago and claims to know the identity of the person responsible.
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Alistair was gunned down on the steps of his Victorian villa in Crescent Road, Nairn on November 28, 2004, after bathing his two sons before bed. A mystery man, who had knocked on the door carrying a blue birthday card style envelope with the name Paul on it, had asked for Alistair by name that Sunday before opening fire and running off.
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In the last 21 years police appeared to have drawn a blank in their hunt for the killer. Bleksley, who has been investigating Alistair Wilson 's murder since 2005, says he will be revealing new information about the case in a one man stage show that will tour Britain and Ireland from next January.
The 65-year-old has been a vocal critic of the police probe for a number of years.
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He added:"From my first visit to the crime scene in 2005 I have always believed that this is a crime that could and should have been solved, if it hadn't been for the lamentable errors by Northern Constabulary and then Police Scotland.
"I believe that as firmly today as I did back then. They should hang their heads in shame as this is a case that should have been wrapped up and dealt with a long time ago.
"It's outrageous and a deep dark stain stain on the reputation of Police Scotland that they have manifestly failed to solve such an emminently solvable case.
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"It has been blighted by mistakes since Alistair's wife Veronica made that first 999 call right up to today."
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Last September, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain announced a new police investigation of the murder after meeting the Wilson family, including his widow, Veronica.
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Bleksley is inviting detectives to come along to hear what he has to say during the 106 date nationwide tour which includes performances in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh. In the show - The Makings of a Murderer - Bleksley will also be revealing details of who he thinks is the prime suspect. He believes he is a local Nairn man now in his 40's who is said to have access to firearms and served a recent prison sentence for drug offences.
Bleksley added:"I have uncovered that he has a previous conviction for possessing an offensive weapon. He has other criminal convictions and has family that lives in Spain.
"He has an uncle called Paul and I have been trying to get in front of him for some time without any luck.
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"If I were leading the murder inquiry this person would be of considerable interest.
"I will be revealing a lot of new information about the police investigation and explaining why that particular individual is the person responsible.
"I will hope that officers from Police Scotland will be sitting in the audience with notebooks and pens."
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Bleksley says Police Scotland have declined a number of offers over the year to meet him.
He added:"They regard me as as a thorn in their side but they could have spoken with me in a collaborative manner.
"They are very welcome to buy a ticket and pop along if they want. I have no objection to them coming."
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During his time in the Met in London Bleksley spent ten years undercover targeting organised crime, and solved a number of murders.
He will devote the second half of each of next year's shows to his investigation into the Nairn murder. In 2018 he published the only book written to date on Alistair Wilson - To Catch a Killer - and believes that prompted police to review the case.
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Bleksley is hopeful that the new probe under Chief Supt Suzanne Chow will finally solve the murder and bring closure to the Wilson family who still live in the north east of Scotland seaside town.
He added:"That case has taken up a huge amount of my time which is irrelevant compared to the hurt that the Wilson have family have felt
"My work is far from done and it's is very much ongoing."
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Alistair Wilson's family have also criticised Police Scotland's efforts to find the killer. In December 2023, they complained to the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner (PIRC) about the handling of the force's investigation.
They said they had been misled over plans to arrest a suspect in May that year which was called off. Last September the family said they had "lost confidence" in the national force and labelled it "incompetent".
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They then met First Minister John Swinney in January, who told them he hoped the new investigation would prove successful in their search for justice.
Bleksley claims his suspect is the same man Police Scotland had planned to arrest two years ago.
In 2022 Police Scotland revealed that a row over decking at the nearby Havelock Hotel may be linked to the murder and appealed to anyone who was a customer around then to come forward.
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The hotel's owner Andy Burnett had applied for retrospective planning permission which Alistair had objected to. The dad was shot dead only a few days after the objection was lodged with the local council.
It then emerged that detectives had travelled to Nova Scotia in Canada to interview Burnett - who had emigrated there after selling the hotel - but stressed he was not a suspect.
At the time of his murder Alistair was a business manager with the Bank of Scotland but was due to take up a new job in Inverness.
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Between 2015 and 2019 Bleksley played the part of The Chief in six series of Hunted.
Chief Superintendent Suzanne Chow, Police Scotland, said: 'This is a live criminal investigation and our enquiries are ongoing. We are not in a position to discuss any details of our ongoing investigation.
"Our relationship with Alistair's family is a priority and we are determined to bring those involved in Alistair's murder to justice. If you have any information that would assist detectives, please contact us on 101 or via the Major Investigation Public Portal (MIPP) or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'