In 1984, a serial burglar and rapist was at large in England, his crimes spanning several Home Counties as well as the northeast of the country. He was armed, masked and dangerous, and he had an unusual calling card – in every house he broke into, he built himself a blanket fort in the living room and made himself at home, watching television and drinking cups of tea. His habit of den-building and the way he slunk off into the countryside after his assaults soon led to him being given the nickname ‘The Fox’. People were fearful, and the police had a tough job on their hands as his attacks crossed multiple jurisdictions. They were learning more about him each time he struck, but they needed to catch him fast before his violence escalated. Who was The Fox, and how would they find him?

Update 29th May 2024
72 year old Malcolm Fairley A.K.A The Fox died at HMP Hull yesterday (Tuesday 28th May)  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dde87035po

Note: Thank you to those of you who have correctly pointed out that Malcolm Fairley should not be referred to as a "Geordie", as he was from Sunderland, which makes him colloquially known as a "Mackem". This is a common error and derived from the Brampton victim stating on 18 August 1984 that they recognized his accent as being from "somewhere in the northeast" and erroneously referring to him as a Geordie. I quoted it from there without fully understanding the differences. Apologies for the inaccuracy.


Thanks for listening! Here’s how you can get in touch with comments and suggestions:

• My Website

• Twitter / X

• Facebook

• Patreon

• Email prashsmurdermap@gmail.com

Want to listen to my audiobook, Murder Casebook Volume 1? Check out the Audible Links below:

AUDIBLE UK

AUDIBLE US

*****
I’m an independent podcaster, so I would be extremely grateful for any one-off donations, however small. This will go towards maintaining and upgrading my audio equipment, podcast hosting fees and licencing costs for any music and voices I use in my episodes. If you would like to contribute on an ongoing basis, you can do that through Patreon, so please feel free to check out the link below and see what rewards are on offer in return for your support. Thank you!!


Donate via Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/prashsmurdermap

Or you could buy me a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/prashsmurdermap

** YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!**

Sources: https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/nostalgia/crimelibrary/malcolmfairley/whowasmalcolmfairley/
https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/crime/thirty-five-years-on-from-crime-spree-that-shook-tring-1995858
https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2017/08/03/islander-buys-sketches-by-uks-most-violent-inmate/
https://wearsideonline.com/malcolm-fairley-aka-the-fox/
Liverpool Echo, February 1985
Daily Mirror, July 1984 and February 1985
The Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette, December 1938
Evening Chronicle, February 1985
Sunday Mirror, March 1985 Luton/Dunstable on Sunday, November 1999
Leighton Buzzard on Sunday, October 1999