See here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.
On 10th July 1971 around 11.45pm a car jumped the lights at Georgetown, just east of St Helier, and drove off erratically. Police Constables Riseborough and McGinn, on mobile patrol, gave chase. It was hair-raising as the Morris 1100 attempted to evade the chasers for several miles. Had the driver simply stopped at the outset and apologised he might have got away with it I imagine.
He was eventually caught and arrested and taken to police HQ. Over the ensuing hours it became clear, by the man’s dress and the contents of his pockets and car, that this was no ordinary arrest. It was Edward John Louis Paisnel, 46, The Beast of Jersey. A building contractor, well-known and respected, married with a daughter and two step-children.
Searches of his house at Grouville revealed the extent of his activities and of his interests and mindset. His wife Joan professed to know nothing of her husband’s nocturnal activities.
He was charged on 13 counts and was quickly found guilty and sentenced to 30 years. He served 20 years in Winchester Gaol and was released after being a model prisoner. Astonishingly, he sought to return to Jersey but no one here was having it. He moved to the Isle of Wight where, three years later in 1994, he died of a heart attack.
For a more detailed account you should visit the excellent True Crime Enthusiast website.
Back On The Rock 
He kinda looks like a beast . HIs arrest seems anticlimatic consdering his heinous crimes. Good series.
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Thanks Pat. Unbelievable that it was only a traffic offence he was arrested for, after 14 years at large.
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Scary stuff, unbelievable he was able to carry on for 14 years without being caught. I wonder if he actually wanted the police to get him in the end – these psychopathic serial offenders often do seek the attention, I believe. Events like this must be very unusual in Jersey (thank goodness!) and I’m surprised he is barely remembered.
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I’m afraid our police have never been good with major crime. You’re right though, incredible that Paisnel continued to live and work among us undetected for so long. Those assaults listed were only those he was charged with. There were others.
And indeed it’s interesting how the world moves on so quickly. People quickly put bad stuff behind them. Maybe it’s just as well.
The
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