Keith William Ridley (Detained)

Keith Ridley murdered Iris Dawkins 9 who he stabbed 39 times. He was 13 at the time of the murder but was not convicted until 9 years later when he was 22.

The case was unsolved one for 8 years. Iris Dawkins was found murdered in a wooded copse in Mayfield Park on 20 February 1960. She had been stabbed 39 times. He been charged with the murder in 1960 but was aquitted in court after pleading not guilty. He said Iris Dawkins had been found dead in the wood at Mayfield Park after they and other children had been playing cowboys and indians.

The case was reopened in 1969 and Keith Ridley was convicted.

He told the court 'I get the urge to kill every so often'.

In November 1968 he was discovered by a policeman in Mayfield Park loitering near some houses wearing rubber gloves and carrying a sheaf knife. He was arrested for suspected loitering with intent to steal. He said that he had intended threatening someone to get their wallet. Then he said 'No, I had better tell you the truth. I get the urge to kill every so often. I had bought this knife and came out with the intention of killing someone. I'll tell you now. I killed someone in Mayfield Park about 10 years ago. Her name was Iris Dawkins. Now you have got me. I thought it best to tell you about it and then I cant kill anyone else.'