Did you think that being a known criminal would be enough to stop you being issued with a Firearms Certificate? Think again after reading this …
Christopher Cotcher – known as Cotch – A well known Pimp in Worthing, living at that time in Ivydoor Avenue, up near the A27 – also running flats as a brothels in Emerald Quay, Shoreham; Brighton Marina and Bognor, in conjunction with John Arnold Reynolds. Cotch kept a loaded shotgun under the sofa in his lounge. His toddler daughter also played in that room.
However, in spite of his criminal record he was allowed to renew his Firearms Licence through a corrupt police officer – PC Francis from Lewes. He was also receiving classified police intelligence from DC Clinton Novelle of Brighton – which they sold into the criminal underworld.
Cotcher was also pimping out his own wife – in a caravan parked in the garden – and it was well known that her services were available to corrupt officers as well.
When we raided his house one of these officers was in the lounge, pleasuring himself – in front of the young daughter. Obviously a situation which was seen as “normal” in this perverted household.
Apparently this criminal “had to have the gun” as he had been threatened by another over “turf wars”.
Yes, I am sure you can see the logics to that as well as I could!
I took the shotgun — which had been stolen from Sandringham and belonged to Prince Charles — and handed it in to Surrey County’s Police at Guildford. This was on the advice of Customs & Excise, who said that Sussex Police were too corrupt. I just hope this gun never got back to this particular criminal.