Name Herbert Hannam | Died 1983 | |
Herbert Hannam (died 1983) was a British policeman within the Metropolitan Police Service. He was based at Scotland Yard where he held the rank of Detective Superintendent.
Career
Hannam became famous for solving the infamous Teddington Towpath Murders in 1953.
In 1956 he took charge of the investigation of the activities of suspected serial killer John Bodkin Adams, who worked in Eastbourne. He was assisted by Detective Sergeant Charles Hewett.
Hannam's aristocratic air led to the press dubbing him "The Count". Despite opposition from the BMA, DPP and the Eastbourne police, he found evidence to prosecute Adams on four counts of murder.
Adams was only charged with two though, the murders of Edith Alice Morrell and Gertrude Hullett. He was tried for the former in 1957 but controversially found not guilty. The Attorney General entered an unprecedented plea of nolle prosequi regarding Mrs Hullett.
Hannam expressed concern about not only high-level political but medical and judicial interference in the investigation and the subsequent prosecution.
Hannam was later promoted to Commander but left CID in 1960, becoming a security adviser.