The last seven days have seen some dramatic developments in three investigations where The Upsetter has led and the mainstream media fears to tread.
The conviction of two corrupt cops and the dramatic departure of an honourable fire chief gives an important insight into what passes for self-regulation of public services.
Suits You
Last Tuesday, former Metropolitan police officer Lee Morrell was jailed for corruption.
His quadriplegic American wife, who Morrell had married while on the run in the USA, had come to hear the sentence on her birthday.
Sitting behind the wife and her daughter were two women who looked like they wanted Morrell splattered all over the back wall of the dock. The 39-year-old was doing everything to avoid their gaze.
Instead, he concentrated on giving reassuring nods and winks to the wife seventeen years his senior who had travelled from Washington state in a wheelchair to be at Southwark Crown Court on 10 September.
The Upsetter, the only newshound in Court 8, didn’t know what to make of such a confusing scene in such cramped surroundings.
Was the young woman sitting behind Morrell’s wife a jilted girlfriend? Had she come for one last look at the love rat before he went down for some double heavy dirty cop time?
The bizarre truth would have to wait until the prosecution finished its run down of the crimes and misdemeanours Morrell had pleaded guilty to earlier in the summer following his extradition from the US.
At the time of his corruption, the constable was based at one of the Met’s naughtiest nicks, Charing Cross, in Westminster.
While there and on the robbery squad, which targeted street gangs, dippers, perverts and muggers, he had sought out a corrupt relationship with a Moroccan security company boss.
The Moroccan looked after a number of West End club doors including Playboy, Aura, Project, Dstrkt and Beat, where he owned some shares.
In return for providing tip offs about licensing inspections and inside information on cops and venues, Morrell received free entry and booze for him and his cop mates.
He also wanted expensive clothing for himself. After all, a bent cop has to look the part in Soho.