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Departing detective grateful to Lancashire Telegraph readers
10:09am Friday 29th August 2008
By Sally Henfield »
THE top detective picked to head Jersey’s major child abuse investigation has paid tribute to East Lancashire residents for their help in solving many of his cases.
Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell has been officially appointed as the senior investigating officer of the ongoing abuse inquiry at the former Haut de la Garenne care home on the island.
Mr Gradwell will initially be seconded from Lancashire Police’s Major Investigation Team for 12 months and is expected to leave for Jersey next month.
The 47-year-old originally joined Lancashire Police in 1979, when he was on the beat in the Ewood and Fishmoor areas of Blackburn.
He has served in the county’s Eastern division for more than 20 of his 29 years in the force.
His current role is head of the East Lancashire arm of the major crime team.
Mr Gradwell said said: “One of the cases that I will always remember was the Accrington house fire that claimed the lives of the Riaz family.
"When I met the son Adam in hospital he was suffering from a terminal illness and had lost his whole family at the hands of his father, yet the courtesy he showed me will always stay with me.”
Mr Gradwell also thanked people who have helped him during his time in East Lancashire.
He said: “When I have turned out to a job at 3am and know nothing about what has happened and I send an appeal out to the public through the Lancashire Telegraph, I have always been overwhelmed by the response.
“It is amazing the number of people that come forward to say they may have seen something important if they think it will help the police and the local community to solve that crime.
"I have always been very grateful for that.”
Det Supt Gradwell was considering a move to Basra to assist with policing there before he beat 27 others to the Jersey job due to his extensive experience of large, complex inquiries such as the Morecambe cocklepicker deaths in 2004 and high-profile cases like the murder of Bacup student Sophie Lancaster.
Your Say YourTelegraph
NEVARTI, London says...
12:53pm Sat 30 Aug 08
He will be living alongside an utter nightmare, day and night, and one which NOBODY would willingly enjoy and want to believe. It is going to be an almost impossible task; difficult in the extreme! Mick Gradwell obviously knows that evil in itself, when cornered, tries to use the utter disbelief and horror of GOOD, but naive people, to cover its horrendous and atrocious face, even trying to paint itself as a fair angel!
Thousands upon thousands of unseen people will be riveted to this ghastly affair which, no doubt, has tentacles reaching every single one of the British Isles!
Yes, May God be with you Mick; despite the fabled divine vengeance appearing slow to come sometimes, I perceive it IS coming; and not only on Jersey, but all over the entire planet, and very soon!
Your sayYourTelegraph
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Mick Gradwell
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Kate C, haslingden says...
4:52pm Fri 29 Aug 08
They are fortunate to have a very committed man to further this shocking investigation.
I have only met him briefly during and after the trial and sentencing of Sophie's murderers, but I know how conscientiously he worked with Dean Holden and the team on Sophie's investigation.
He will be forever remembered here and as we continue the work of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which he has supported since from the start.
With all best wishes to you Mike
Kate Conboy-Greenwood
S.O.P.H.I.E