Latest news with #Griffiths
Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Inside 'Crossbow Cannibal' flat where evil PhD student butchered sex workers
The stench was the first thing that struck the police officers as they stormed into Stephen Griffiths' compact Bradford flat - a blend of decay and burnt flesh. It didn't take long to trace the nauseating smell back to the dismembered body of a woman, who Griffiths had been seen on CCTV dragging back to his den. Suzanne Blamires, 36, had vanished from Bradford's red-light district just days before. She had been enticed home by Griffiths, who had made friends with some of the sex workers operating in the streets surrounding his flat. Suzanne was captured on the same CCTV camera fleeing in terror from his foul-smelling flat, pursued by the murderer wielding a black crossbow. After rendering her unconscious in the hallway, the beast dragged Suzanne back inside, then smirked at the camera and raised his middle finger in a derisive salute, reports the Mirror. It wasn't until the building's caretaker casually reviewed the footage on the morning of Monday, May 24, 2010 - three days later - that he noticed the altercation. It was witnessing Suzanne's final act of courage, her attempt to escape, that ultimately led to the capture of the self-proclaimed 'Crossbow Cannibal'. Griffiths, a criminology PhD student who idolised Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, amassed an arsenal of weapons and books about murder, nurturing dreams of becoming a serial killer. As a child, he would torment animals, ripping the wings off birds and smashing his own pet rat with a hammer. His younger siblings were subjected to violence. Griffiths designed a system whereby he would award them 'points' for annoying him. After accumulating a certain number of points, he would launch a vicious attack on them, ignoring their sobs of pain. But even they could not have predicted the twisted crimes he went on to commit against at least three women. Now, 15 years on from the Bradford murders, a new Prime Video documentary looks back at how the killer was able to get away with his crimes for so long - crimes which would have a lifelong impact on everyone involved. After the shocked caretaker and his manager called 999 to report the chilling CCTV footage, Damien Sharp, a former firearms tactical advisor with West Yorkshire Police, was tasked with planning and executing the raid to arrest Stephen Griffiths. His partner Adam Twigg was part of the ground team, poised to break down the killer's door and free the woman they hoped was still alive inside. Both men are speaking publicly about what they witnessed for the first time. "We had a collapsing time frame," says Damien. "We knew from the cameras that Suzanne hadn't left Griffiths' apartment over the weekend. The hope was that she was still alive." Firearms officer Adam and his squad broke through Griffiths' door only to find him sitting up in bed. "I gave him a gentle prod with the front of my gun to drive him to the floor," he remembers. A loaded crossbow was found near the scene, along with an array of hunting knives and shells. As officers subdued the murderer and handcuffed him, Adam knelt to inform him of his arrest. "I told him, 'Stephen, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.' And he just looked up at me and went, 'I'm Osama bin Laden.'". Adam's team then began a thorough search of the flat for any signs of Suzanne. The discoveries they made were chilling to the core. "One of them opened the microwave and immediately shut the door again," Damien recalls, describing how he could hear his team's reactions over the radio. "He said the flat was like something out of [horror film] Seven, blood smeared everywhere and crossbow bolts embedded in the walls. The smell was horrific - sweet and rotten. It was the smell of death." Adam proceeded to check the bathroom, which the murderer had ominously referred to as 'The Slaughterhouse. '. Blood was splattered across various surfaces, and a burnt quilt in the bathtub covered what remained of a rucksack. Griffiths was attempting to destroy DNA evidence from Suzanne's dismembered body parts, which he had packed into the bag to dispose of in the nearby River Aire. "There was a sizable portion of a brain in the microwave," Adam recounts. "And there was another portion of brain on a plate, on a coffee table in the front room, next to a pair of amputated breasts." The police also seized Griffiths' laptop and digital camera, which contained a trove of disturbing images and videos. In a horrifying case, Shelley Armitage aged 31, who had vanished a month earlier on April 26, 2010, was found deceased with 'My sex slave' etched into her flesh. She had been fatally shot with a crossbow by Griffiths, who then dismembered and partly consumed her. Griffiths, tagged as a sadistic schizoid psychopath since 1991, after he slashed a shop clerk's face during a theft, is known to have ended the lives of at least three women. Susan Rushworth, 43, fell victim to his hammer attack when she went missing on June 22, 2009. He chopped up her body, using machine tools, cooked, and ate parts of her remains; her remains have not been recovered. After his conviction, the merciless killer taunted her grieving family by withholding details of his vile act. Shelley was his second casualty, Suzanne his third. In a chilling moment of courtroom drama, Griffiths declared himself the 'Crossbow Cannibal' when questioned on his identity - a claim that Dr Nicola Davies, a behavioural scientist and psychological profiler, sees as a cover for his bruised ego. Dr Davies states: "Griffiths had invested so much of his identity into becoming what he saw as the ultimate predator," adding "He had rehearsed his fantasies, studied serial killers at PhD level, and created a mythologised version of himself online. Being caught destroyed that performance and he found that intolerable. "Griffiths wanted to be a serial killer and yet he only just achieved that definition - three murders - before the brave Suzanne Blamires ensured he was caught when she escaped his flat and his crime was recorded on CCTV. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week "For a man who saw himself as untouchable and the ultimate predator, this would have severely hurt his ego – as would the fact that he 'underperformed' in comparison to his serial killer idols." After being found guilty in 2010, Griffiths received a rare whole-life order for the killing of Susan, Shelley, and Suzanne, thus ensuring he'll spend the rest of his days locked up, with no chance of release. The presiding judge labelled him "wicked and monstrous". He has since been implicated in the deaths of three other women, but defiantly refuses to assist police in their ongoing inquiries.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
He found brain in microwave and severed breasts on table in horror home
Serial killer Stephen Griffiths proudly proclaimed himself as the Crossbow Cannibal when he appeared in court charged with the murders of three women. Now as a Prime Video documentary looks back at his twisted crimes, the two police officers who caught him reveal the sickening sights inside his blood-splattered Bradford flat It was the smell that first hit the police officers as they burst through the door of Stephen Griffiths ' small Bradford flat - the scent of sweet rot and charred meat. And it wasn't long before the sickening odor was traced back to the dismembered body of a woman who Griffiths had been caught on CCTV dragging back to his lair. Suzanne Blamires, 36, had disappeared from the red-light district of Bradford days earlier. She had been lured home by Griffiths - who had befriended some of the sex workers who plied their trade in the streets around his flat. Suzanne was seen on the same CCTV camera running in terror out of his stinking apartment, followed by the killer - brandishing a black crossbow. After knocking her unconscious in the corridor, the monster dragged Suzanne back inside, before smirking at the camera and raising his middle finger in mock salute. It was only when the building's caretaker idly watched back the footage on the morning of Monday May 24, 2010 - three days later - that he noticed the altercation. It was seeing Suzanne's final act of bravery, when she tried to get away, that finally snared the self-dubbed 'Crossbow Cannibal'. Griffiths, a criminology PhD student, who hero-worshipped Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, stockpiled weapons and books about murder and harboured ambitions of becoming a serial killer. As a child, he would torture animals, pulling the wings off birds and taking a hammer to his own pet rat. His younger siblings were subjected to violence. Griffiths designed a system whereby he would award them 'points' for annoying him. After accumulating a certain number of points, he would launch a vicious attack on them, ignoring their sobs of pain. But even they could not have predicted the twisted crimes he went on to commit against at least three women. Now,15 years on from the Bradford murders, a new Prime Video documentary looks back at how the killer was able to get away with his crimes for so long - crimes which would have a lifelong impact on everyone involved. After the shocked caretaker and his manager called 999 to report the chilling CCTV footage, Damien Sharp, a former firearms tactical advisor with West Yorkshire Police, was tasked with planning and executing the raid to arrest Stephen Griffiths. His partner Adam Twigg was part of the ground team, poised to break down the killer's door and free the woman they hoped was still alive inside. Both men are speaking publicly about what they witnessed for the first time. 'We had a collapsing time frame,' says Damien. 'We knew from the cameras that Suzanne hadn't left Griffiths' apartment over the weekend. The hope was that she was still alive.' Firearms officer Adam and his squad broke through Griffiths' door only to find him sitting up in bed. 'I gave him a gentle prod with the front of my gun to drive him to the floor,' he remembers. A loaded crossbow lay nearby, along with a cache of hunting knives and shells. Once officers got the killer on the floor and in handcuffs, Adam crouched down to read him his rights. 'I told him, 'Stephen, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.' And he just looked up at me and went, 'I'm Osama bin Laden.'' Adam and his team set about searching the flat for any trace of Suzanne. What they found would haunt them forever. 'One of them opened the microwave and immediately shut the door again,' says Damien, recalling how he could hear everything his team were saying over the radio. 'He said the flat was like something out of [horror film] Seven, blood smeared everywhere and crossbow bolts embedded in the walls. The smell was horrific - sweet and rotten. It was the smell of death.' Adam went to investigate the bathroom - which the killer had proudly dubbed 'The Slaughterhouse.' Blood was splattered over the surfaces and a charred quilt covered the remnants of a rucksack in the bathtub. Griffiths was trying to dispose of DNA evidence from Suzanne's body parts, which he'd stashed inside the bag to dump in the nearby River Aire. 'There was a sizable portion of a brain in the microwave,' remembers Adam. 'And there was another portion of brain on a plate, on a coffee table in the front room, next to a pair of amputated breasts.' Officers also recovered Griffiths' laptop and digital camera, which had a stash of disturbing images and footage. Shelley Armitage, a 31-year-old woman who had gone missing a month previously on April 26, 2010, was seen lying dead in his bath with the words 'My sex slave' carved into her chest. Griffiths had shot her with his crossbow, cut up her remains and cannibalised part of her body. At least three women met their deaths at the hands of Griffiths, who had been diagnosed as a sadistic schizoid psychopath in 1991, after slashing a shop clerk's face while shoplifting goods. He murdered Susan Rushworth, 43, with a hammer after she disappeared on June 22, 2009. He had dismembered her body using machine tools, before cooking and eating some of her flesh. No trace of her remains have ever been found. After being convicted, Griffiths taunted her devastated family, by refusing to tell them what he did to her. Shelley was his second victim and Suzanne his third. In court, Griffiths proudly proclaimed himself the Crossbow Cannibal in response to being asked his name - a boast that behavioural scientist and psychological profiler Dr Nicola Davies believes was actually designed to protect his shattered ego. 'Griffiths had invested so much of his identity into becoming what he saw as the ultimate predator,' she observes. 'He had rehearsed his fantasies, studied serial killers at PhD level, and created a mythologised version of himself online. Being caught destroyed that performance and he found that intolerable. 'Griffiths wanted to be a serial killer and yet he only just achieved that definition - three murders - before the brave Suzanne Blamires ensured he was caught when she escaped his flat and his crime was recorded on CCTV. 'For a man who saw himself as untouchable and the ultimate predator, this would have severely hurt his ego – as would the fact that he 'underperformed' in comparison to his serial killer idols.' After his conviction in 2010, Griffiths was handed a rare whole-life order for the murders of Susan, Shelley and Suzanne, meaning he will die behind bars without ever being released. The judge described him as 'wicked and monstrous'. He has since been linked to the murders of three other women, but has refused to cooperate with police in subsequent interviews.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Adult content ban looms for UK from next month as Ofcom announces new age checks
Ofcom's new age measures on adult content will apply in the UK to both dedicated adult sites and social media, search or gaming services, as part of the Online Safety Act (OSA) All UK adult content sites will implement "highly effective" age verification within the next month to better safeguard children, according to an announcement by regulator Ofcom. Major providers such as Pornhub, Stripchat and Jerkmate have agreed to these enhanced measures, which apply to both dedicated adult sites and social media, search or gaming services, under the Online Safety Act (OSA). Any firm that fails to comply with the checks by July 25, 2025 could face fines or be blocked in the UK through a court order. The platforms are also required to ensure these measures do not infringe on the privacy of adults or hinder them from accessing legal content. The Online Safety Act was passed into law in August 2024. The Act provides a regulatory framework to regulate internet services and make the online world safer for individuals in the United Kingdom. This includes illegal content and activity, as well as content that is harmful to children. Age verification methods may include credit card checks, open banking or facial age estimation to determine or estimate a user's age. Ofcom stated that "the way in which these solutions are implemented in practice" will determine whether it complies with the OSA. This follows new research by Ofcom revealing that 8% of eight to 14 year olds in the UK had visited an online adult content site or app on smartphones, tablets or computers within a month. In June 2025, Ofcom announced it had initiated several investigations into 4chan, an adult content site operator and various file-sharing platforms over suspected failures to protect children, following complaints about illegal activity and potential sharing of child abuse images. It reported that none of the services responded to its legal information requests. Ofcom's group director of online safety, Oliver Griffiths, remarked on the increased protection for children online, saying: "Society has long protected youngsters from products that aren't suitable for them, from alcohol to smoking or gambling," he said. "But for too long children have been only a click away from harmful pornography online. Now, change is happening," Griffiths added. "These age checks will bring pornography into line with how we treat adult services in the real world, without compromising access and privacy for over-18s." Ofcom also plans to release a report on the use and effectiveness of age assurance methods next year.
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Tributes to ‘legendary' defence barrister Courtenay Griffiths KC
Jamaica-born Dr Griffiths was among the first black lawyers to be awarded the then-Queen's Counsel status and rose to become a most prominent and formidable force at the criminal bar. He defended in many high-profile criminal trials after he was called to the bar in July 1980 and awarded silk in 1998. Notable cases included the Pc Keith Blakelock murder trial, the Brighton bombing and the Damilola Taylor murder trial. In 2007 he represented former Liberia president Charles Taylor in his war crimes trial in The Hague and also sat as a part-time judge. Barrister Laurie-Anne Power KC, of 25 Bedford Row, said: 'He was the single most influential figure in my legal career. 'He epitomised brilliance, intellect and fearlessness in equal measure. 'He considered it his duty to open doors and provide opportunities to those who might not otherwise have them. 'He was unapologetic about changing the landscape of the bar. 'As an advocate, there was simply no-one better. 'He commanded the attention of anyone and everyone in the courtroom. 'He had it all in abundance. 'But behind the advocate was a gentle, kind, and selfless man who loved the law.' Ms Power said she first met Dr Griffiths at a law fair in 1998 and he immediately asked her if she was Jamaican after sharing stories of their mutual love for the island. She added: 'He was my only mentor, in the true sense of the word. 'He hounded me into applying for silk and did not stop until I got it. 'He was a friend first and made me believe that I could achieve anything within the profession.' ITV News senior correspondent Ronke Phillips said: 'To watch Courtenay Griffiths in action at the Old Bailey was compelling. 'He was a skilled advocate. Sharp, clever and when needed, witty. 'Like all great barristers, he treated the courtroom as though he was the leading man in his own drama. 'His exchanges were often devastating for witnesses, but those of us on the press benches were delighted. 'He never failed to deliver the quotes we needed for our copy. 'Courtenay was charm itself. Serious about his work but never too serious to be friendly and always with a twinkle in his eye. RIP' Writing on X, Jacqueline McKenzie, solicitor and partner at law firm Leigh Day, said: 'Through his practice at Garden Court and 25 Bedford Row Chambers, he acted in major criminal and human rights cases, in the UK and overseas, and left an indelible mark of greatness on our profession, and on the world.' Defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths (John Stillwell/PA) Barrister Amina Graham, from 2 Hare Court Chambers, wrote on LinkedIn: 'He demonstrated the importance of representation for me in my pursuit of a career at the Bar. 'I worked with him during my time at the Special Court for Sierra Leona where he represented Charles Taylor … a formidable advocate and an inspiration to so many.' Dr Griffiths was a multi-award-winning barrister who spent the majority of his career between Garden Court Chambers and 25 Bedford Row. In 2020, Dr Griffiths was handed an outstanding achievement award at the Legal 500 Awards and was given a lifetime achievement award at the UK Diversity Legal Awards in 2018. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2005.
ITV News
4 days ago
- ITV News
Tributes to ‘legendary' defence barrister Courtenay Griffiths KC
The British legal world has paid tribute to 'legendary' defence barrister Courtenay Griffiths KC, who has died at the age of 69. Jamaica-born Dr Griffiths was among the first black lawyers to be awarded the then-Queen's Counsel status and rose to become a most prominent and formidable force at the criminal bar. He defended in many high-profile criminal trials after he was called to the bar in July 1980 and awarded silk in 1998. Notable cases included the Pc Keith Blakelock murder trial, the Brighton bombing and the Damilola Taylor murder trial. In 2007 he represented former Liberia president Charles Taylor in his war crimes trial in The Hague and also sat as a part-time judge. Barrister Laurie-Anne Power KC, of 25 Bedford Row, said: 'He was the single most influential figure in my legal career. 'He epitomised brilliance, intellect and fearlessness in equal measure. 'He considered it his duty to open doors and provide opportunities to those who might not otherwise have them. 'He was unapologetic about changing the landscape of the bar. 'As an advocate, there was simply no-one better. 'He commanded the attention of anyone and everyone in the courtroom. 'He had it all in abundance. 'But behind the advocate was a gentle, kind, and selfless man who loved the law.' Ms Power said she first met Dr Griffiths at a law fair in 1998 and he immediately asked her if she was Jamaican after sharing stories of their mutual love for the island. She added: 'He was my only mentor, in the true sense of the word. 'He hounded me into applying for silk and did not stop until I got it. 'He was a friend first and made me believe that I could achieve anything within the profession.' ITV News senior correspondent Ronke Phillips said: 'To watch Courtenay Griffiths in action at the Old Bailey was compelling. 'He was a skilled advocate. Sharp, clever and when needed, witty. 'Like all great barristers, he treated the courtroom as though he was the leading man in his own drama. 'His exchanges were often devastating for witnesses, but those of us on the press benches were delighted. 'He never failed to deliver the quotes we needed for our copy. 'Courtenay was charm itself. Serious about his work but never too serious to be friendly and always with a twinkle in his eye. RIP' Writing on X, Jacqueline McKenzie, solicitor and partner at law firm Leigh Day, said: 'Through his practice at Garden Court and 25 Bedford Row Chambers, he acted in major criminal and human rights cases, in the UK and overseas, and left an indelible mark of greatness on our profession, and on the world.' Barrister Amina Graham, from 2 Hare Court Chambers, wrote on LinkedIn: 'He demonstrated the importance of representation for me in my pursuit of a career at the Bar. 'I worked with him during my time at the Special Court for Sierra Leona where he represented Charles Taylor … a formidable advocate and an inspiration to so many.' Dr Griffiths was a multi-award-winning barrister who spent the majority of his career between Garden Court Chambers and 25 Bedford Row. In 2020, Dr Griffiths was handed an outstanding achievement award at the Legal 500 Awards and was given a lifetime achievement award at the UK Diversity Legal Awards in 2018. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2005.
