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In this episode, I tell the story of Thomas Shanks and Vickie Fletcher.
On May 7, 1998, 47-year-old former SAS soldier Thomas Shanks murdered his ex-girlfriend Vickie Fletcher whilst the 21-year-old was on a night out with her friends in Castleford, West Yorkshire.
After using an AK-47 to fire multiple shots at Vickie, Thomas fled to Scotland, where he was arrested the following day.
His first murder trial ended in May 1999, with the jury unable to reach a verdict. A subsequent trial occurred in early 2000, with Thomas being found guilty of murder on April 19.
Mr Justice Jowitt handed him a life sentence, and he received a minimum term of 18 years in 2008 when the law changed regarding minimum tariffs.
As of November 2017, Thomas Shanks is a free man, with some sources suspecting that he has returned to his native Scotland.
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic
References:
Banner, P., & Collins, T. (1998, May 8). MANHUNT: City fear as nurse gunned down. Sandwell Evening Mail, 1–3.
Collins, T. (1998, May 9). MANHUNT DOC “CARING” SAYS EX-WIFE. Sandwell Evening Mail, 1–3.
Daniels, B. (1998, May 9). Jilted SAS Scots here gunned down his lover. Daily Record, 1–5.
Doctor charged over nurse shooting. (1998, May 10). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/90539.stm
Doctor denies killing nurse. (1998, September 5). Birmingham Mail, 16.
DRINKERS TELL OF PUB TERROR. (1998, May 8). Birmingham Mail, 3.
Ex-SAS man jailed for murder. (2000, April 19). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/719328.stm
Ex-SAS man murder trial jury split. (1999, May 28). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/355364.stm
Ex-SAS man’s murder appeal fails. (2003, March 19). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2863763.stm
Gardner, A. (2022, November 28). SAS hero who gunned down ex in jealous murder feared to be back in Scotland. Daily Record. Retrieved May 16, 2023, from https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sas-hero-who-gunned-down-28597333
Gulf veteran “had assaulted nurse he killed.”(1999, April 27). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/329934.stm
Gun murder doctor struck off. (2003, May 12). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3020853.stm
Hunt for doc after nurse shot dead. (1998, May 8). Aberdeen Evening Express, 6.
“Jealous lover shot girlfriend.”(1999, April 16). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/321671.stm
Key, I. (1999, April 29). GULF WAR SYNDROME MADE SAS DOCTOR KILL VICKY. Daily Record, 17.
Morris, L. (1998, May 9). Man held in nurse murder hunt. Irish Independent, 32.
Murder cops grill SAS man. (1998, May 11). Daily Record, 11.
Police question shooting suspect. (1998, May 9). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/90152.stm
Rise and fatal fall of killer doctor. (2000, April 20). HeraldScotland. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12191209.rise-and-fatal-fall-of-killer-doctor/
School cordoned off as police hunt killer. (1998, May 8). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/89508.stm
Scottish police arrest man after gun killing of nurse. (1998, May 9). Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1.
Shanks in court on murder charge. (1998, August 5). BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/145439.stm
White, S. (1998, May 9). Bravery in battle earned Shanks a medal. Daily Record, 5.
