The Pottery Cottage Murders cover art

The Pottery Cottage Murders

The Shocking First-Hand Account of a Family Held Hostage by an Escaped Prisoner

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The Pottery Cottage Murders

By: Peter Howse, Carol Anne Lee
Narrated by: John Telfer
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About this listen

Includes an exclusive interview with Peter Howse and Carol Ann Lee.

A psychopathic criminal on the run from prison. A family of five held hostage in their home. A frantic police manhunt across the snowbound Derbyshire moors. Just one survivor.

The definitive account of the terrifying 1977 Pottery Cottage murders that shocked Britain.

For three days, escaped prisoner Billy Hughes played macabre psychological games with Gill Moran and her family, keeping them in separate rooms of their home while secretly murdering them one by one. On several occasions, Hughes ordered Gill and her husband, Richard, to leave the house for provisions, confident that they would return without betraying him in order to protect their loved ones.

Blizzards hampered the desperate police search, but they learned where the dangerous convict was hiding and closed in on the cottage. A high-speed car chase on icy roads ended with a crash and the killer being shot as he swung a newly sharpened axe at his final victim. This was Britain's first instance of police officers committing 'justifiable homicide' against an escapee.

The story of these terrible events is told here by Carol Ann Lee and Peter Howse, the former chief inspector who saved Gill Moran's life more than 40 years ago.

Peter's professional role has permitted access to witness statements, crime-scene photographs and police reports. Peter Howse and Carol Ann Lee have made use of these, along with fresh interviews with many of those directly involved, to tell a fast-paced and truly shocking story with great insight and empathy.

©2019 Carol Ann Lee and Peter Howse (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK
Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons Crime Murder True Crime Disappearance Exciting Scary Emotionally Gripping

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All stars
Most relevant
Such an interesting story, really well researched and everybody's story who very involved told. I can't imagine what they all went through and what went through in Billy's head when he did all those things he did...

Gruesome

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This had me captured from the first chapter.
A terrible true story with the loss of four innocent lives. Even the last hour listening to Carol Ann Lee talking to Peter Howse had my 100% attention.

Brilliant

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A tale of an heroically brave family and a disturbed man who never got the.help.he needed.
I grew up.in this. area but was not familiar with this case

Disturbing

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An all-round 5-star book for me. The totally horrific story of that poor family. Superbly written and narrated, this has to be one of the best books I've listened to.

Gripping

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Just the right amount of detail and very listenable . Well written account of this disturbing story

Great narrative

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