• Stuart Blaik, leading the investigation said he doesn’t think the case could have gone ‘any better’
  • He said it was a ‘very complex’ investigation which has been ‘emotionally charged’ at times but the team have remained ‘extremely transparent’
  • He said the teenagers tried to ‘frustrate’ the investigation and that he doesn’t believe they ‘are sorry’
  • 3,000 exhibits were seized but Long and Bower’s phones were never found
  • The getaway car used in the theft was a ‘pool’ car with no owner
  • He said he isn’t sure ‘anything will bring closure’ and hopes that the family can now have ‘space’ to grieve
  • He thanked the global network of police officers for support and the family who were ‘dignified’ throughout

-

THE senior investigating officer leading the fight for justice of PC Andrew Harper has said the ‘very complex’ investigation was ‘frustrated’ by the killers.

He said he doesn’t think that Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole are ‘truly sorry’ and that their lack of remorse was clear throughout.

Herald Series:

Killers Henry Long, top: Jessie Cole and bottom: Albert Bowers.

Read the live blog of the sentencing here. 

Speaking after the sentencing Stuart Blaik of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit said: “At no point have they helped.

“It is incredibly disappointing; I don’t believe they are sorry.

“[long] said he has lost sleep over this, I don’t believe that. He has every opportunity before his trial to show some remorse.”

He spoke about the ‘complex investigation’ and the efforts it took to even get the case to court.

He said that the call at 10 to midnight on the night of August 15 is one he will 'never forget'. 

He arrived at the scene just after 2am and officers, PC Harper’s colleagues and crew mate, had already set out preserving the scene and protecting evidence.

In fact, the evidence was so strong that he believes Long’s guilty plea to manslaughter was not a ‘sign of remorse’ but instead because ‘of the wealth of evidence that had been accumulated’.

Superintendent Blaik said: “We had just short of 3,000 exhibits, a huge amount of exhibits, when you see the evidence you don’t know if they are going to become the biggest part of the investigation.”

He said officers had seized clothing and items linked to CCTV evidence but two mobile phones belonging to Long and Bowers were never found.

He said: “The scene was incredibly complex from the outset.

“We had three males wearing dark disguises in gloves and dark clothing.

“The vehicle wasn’t registered and it had been used in a crime.”

He spoke about the sentencing, saying: “Sometimes when people think that the conclusion brings closure and justice I am not sure that anything really bring closure.

“I am hoping [now the family] will be given some space.

“They have been really out in the public gaze for many months.

“To come to terms with the loss of Andrew, despite a verdict or sentenced.”

He said the investigation was made difficult because it was ‘emotionally charged’ and ‘felt personal’.

But, he added: “It was never a personal investigation.

“There has been an awful lot of pressure, most of it has been myself.

“My job is to lead the investigation and I feel we have done that, I know we have done that. We have had great support from CPS.

“I don’t think the case could have gone any better.

“It is down to the 11 members of the jury to decide the verdict.”

Herald Series:

Speaking outside of the central criminal court in London yesterday the detective superintendent the global network of police officers for support over the last 11 months and PC Harper’s family who have remained ‘dignified' throughout.

-

What happened that night?

On August 15, PC Harper was killed in the line of duty responding to a report of a burglary in progress shortly before 11.30pm.

PC Harper and his crew mate PC Andrew Shaw were on duty in an unmarked BMW, driving along the M4 when they heard the call through their radio.

They met Long, Bowers and Cole head on in Admoor Lane, an unlit single-track road at 11.38pm.

Long was driving the Seat Toledo and Bowers was in the passenger seat. Cole was riding behind on a quad bike, which the car was pulling along using a crane strap.

When the cars sopped, Cole unhitched the quadbike’s handlebars from the crane strap, leaving the strap attached to the boot still open.

Cole then alighted from the quadbike, ran along the driver’s side of the police car and entered the Seat through the passenger window.

Herald Series:

As this was happening, PC Harper got out of the car to apprehend Cole.

Inadvertently, PC Harper ran into the trailing loop of the crane strap, which was on the road, and as Long accelerated away, PC Harper’s feet and ankles became caught in it.

The Seat was then driven at speeds of 40mph down winding country lanes.