PETER PICKERING, THE BEAST OF WOMBWELL, DIES IN ALL AREAS AFTER BRUTAL CRIMES IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE AND BERKSHIRE

In March 2018, the notorious child killer and convicted paedophile Peter Pickering, famously known as the 'Beast of Wombwell,' passed away at the age of 80. His death occurred just days after he was found guilty of raping another victim, marking the end of a long and dark chapter in the history of crime in South Yorkshire and beyond.

Pickering's criminal activities date back to 1972, when he was first incarcerated following his admission of abducting, raping, and ultimately murdering Shirley Boldy, a 14-year-old girl from Barnsley. The tragic incident unfolded as Shirley was making her way home from school, unaware that she was being watched by the man who would soon change her life forever. Pickering abducted her, took her to a secluded location, and subjected her to a seven-hour ordeal of rape and torture. The violence culminated in him hacking her to death with a kitchen knife, an act of brutality that shocked the entire region.

When arrested, Pickering confessed to the crime, making a disturbing statement to police: “My mother is to blame for all this. She has possessed me.” His actions drew widespread condemnation, and his case became one of the most infamous in the area. The killing of Shirley Boldy came just five months after Pickering had been released from prison, where he served time for violent sexual assaults against two teenage girls. His criminal history was extensive, and his pattern of violence and predatory behavior was well known to authorities.

At the time of his death, Pickering was being held in secure psychiatric facilities in Berkshire, where he had been transferred for treatment. He had a self-described identity as a Buddhist and bore a tattoo on his right arm reading “Fear God and Honour the Queen.” Throughout his life, he maintained a facade of a theatrical agent, using his supposed status to approach schoolgirls and lure them into his trap. Diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, Pickering's mental health was a significant aspect of his incarceration and treatment.

His criminal activities extended beyond South Yorkshire. While serving time at Thornford Park near Newbury, a facility operated by The Priory, Pickering was questioned by police in September of an unspecified year regarding the 1965 murder of Elsie, a teenage girl who was stabbed five times in a railway underpass while walking home from a sailing club. Elsie’s body was later discovered by a family walking in the woods. West Yorkshire Police indicated that Pickering was likely to face charges related to her murder after liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Just weeks before the murder of Shirley Boldy, Pickering was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman. The victim, now in her 60s, recounted how Pickering had taken her to a secluded spot, where he cut off her underwear with a knife, handcuffed her, raped her, and burned her breasts with cigarettes. He then threatened to kill her. Police later uncovered a garage in Sheffield used by Pickering for storage, containing chilling notes he had written, revealing his disturbing fantasies. One note explicitly stated: “Sex is predominant in my mind, eclipsing all else. Maybe I will be a sex maniac proper. Rape, torture, kill.”

In December 2010, reports emerged that Pickering, then aged 73, was being moved to a lower-security hospital in preparation for potential release. This transfer from a high-security institution to a facility operated by The Priory group sparked outrage among the public and officials. Pickering, who had been previously detained at Broadmoor Hospital and later at Ashworth Hospital in Liverpool, was considered highly dangerous. An insider revealed that he could be released within six months under supervision, with gradual allowances for trips outside the facility. The prospect of his release caused widespread fear, with critics arguing that such a dangerous individual should never be allowed back into society.

Public concern was further fueled by statements from political figures. In 1996, then-Tory Minister David Mellor expressed outrage over Pickering’s transfer to a lower-security unit, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed. Mellor stated, “I spent five and a half years at the Home Office and a good deal of that time I spent making sure Pickering stayed inside. I’m appalled anyone should contemplate letting this man out. Of all the hundreds of files on murders I have seen, this one stands out as the worst.”

Decades later, the trauma inflicted by Pickering continues to resonate. In 2008, a book detailing the gruesome details of Shirley Boldy’s murder reignited pain for her father, Norman Boldy, who was then 80 years old. Norman, a widower, recounted the heartbreak of losing his daughter and the ongoing agony that haunted him for over 35 years. He described how he and his wife, Edna, had searched desperately for Shirley after she failed to return home, only to find her body in woods after a lengthy police search. Norman detailed the lack of support they received at the time, noting that police did not share information or offer counseling, leaving them to grieve in isolation.

Norman’s wife, Edna, died in 2001, never recovering from the loss of her daughter. Norman himself has spoken openly about the pain and grief that have defined his life since that tragic day. He has found some solace through support groups such as SAMM (Support After Murder and Manslaughter), which he joined in recent years. Norman expressed regret that such resources were unavailable to his family in 1972, emphasizing the importance of support for victims’ families.

Throughout his life, Pickering’s case has been a source of public outrage and concern. Despite repeated calls for his continued detention, he was moved to less secure facilities over the years, with some officials and the public fearing that he might one day be released. In 2001, a petition signed by 10,000 people demanded that he remain incarcerated for life, reflecting the widespread fear of his potential to reoffend. The debate over his detention and potential release remains a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to balance justice, public safety, and mental health considerations in cases involving violent offenders.