Soho bomber David Copeland loses appeal over sentence

The immediate aftermath of the bomb blast at the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho

David Copeland, the Soho nailbomber who killed three people in 1999, has lost an appeal to have his sentence cut.

The 35-year-old, from Hampshire, set off three bombs over the course of two weeks designed to kill and seriously injure London’s gay, Asian and black communities.

Sixty-three people were injured by bombs he set off in Brick Lane and Brixton, but the final and most devastating incident took place in Soho, the heart of London’s gay scene.bIn that attack, three people, including a pregnant woman, were killed and 79 were injured.

The bomber, who told police he was a neo-Nazi when arrested, was found guilty the following year of three murders and three offences of planting bombs. He was handed six life sentences for the attacks. Originally, Copeland was told that he must serve a minimum of 30 years before he can be considered for parole.

In 2007, a judge increased that sentence to a minimum of 50 years.

Copeland attempted to appeal the decision but the Court of Appeal ruled this week to uphold it.

Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge said: “It is difficult to exaggerate the horror of these appalling crimes, which stemmed, as far as we can see, from the appellant’s abhorrent beliefs. Having reflected on this awful case, we have come to the conclusion that the appeal should be dismissed.”

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Remembering the Admiral Duncan bombing

The scene outside the Admiral Duncan minutes after the bomb went off

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the Admiral Duncan nail bomb attack on April 30th 1999 in Soho.

It was one of three nail bomb attacks and killed three people, while 80 were injured. While the incidents in Brixton and Brick Lane were targeted directly towards ethnic minorities, the Admiral Duncan bombing was a vicious attack intended to kill gay people. The bomb detonated in the busy pub at 6.37pm. The location was an obvious choice for bomber David Copeland due to its location in Old Compton Street, at the heart of London's gay community. Allegedly, it was the first gay pub chosen from an alphabetical list.

One witness described the scene as "absolute carnage", with several people blown out of the pub into the street. What made the situation even more frightening, was that no warning was given and many were anxious that another explosion was set to go off, causing panic in the streets. Many injured were treated on the roadside, while others fled the area.

At the time, many gay people had seen the area of Old Compton Street as a safe haven where they could socialise without fear of homophobic attacks. The explosion inevitably changed all this and highlighted the prejudice inherent in society that many had forgotten existed. Peter Tatchell summed this view up after the attack, saying: "This outrage has destroyed that cosy assumption."

Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Alan Fry, head of the Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist branch, said that when officers arrived at the scene they were confronted by utter devastation. He said: "It was an horrendous scene. It was a complete wreck."

The device exploded at the start of a bank holiday weekend so the Old Compton Street area had been heaving with people. It was a pre-mediated attack in which the aim was to hurt and kill as many gay people as possible.

Copeland, a former BNP member and neo-Nazi, was so fuelled by hate that he did not consider integration in any of his attacks. In this, where he thought he would be attacking specific groups because the areas he targeted were known to be either gay areas, or ethnic areas, he faltered. In all three attacks, he injured whites and straight people.

One of these was Andrea Dykes, 27, who was four months pregnant. She was was instantly killed while enjoying pre-theatre drinks at the Admiral Pub and her husband was one of those seriously injured. Their friend, Nik Moorem, 31, was also killed and the best man at their wedding, John Light, 32, later died in hospital.

There is now a memorial and a plaque in the pub to commemorate those injured and killed in the blast.

The explosions were set off by David Copeland, then 22, whose objective was to wage a war against ethnic minorities and gay people in Britain. He was arrested at his flat in Sunnybank Road, Farnborough, where police found Nazi flags and a poster of Adolf Hitler in the middle of a collage of photos of bomb victims. He is currently serving six life sentences in Broadmoor Hospital at Crowthorne.

In March 2007, the High Court ruled Copeland could not be released before 2049, when he will be 73. The initial sentence ordered him to spend at least 30 years behind bars but this was extended due to what the High Court judge described as the case’s “exceptional gravity”.

One year on from the tragedy, in 2000, a memorial service was held at St Anne's church nearby to mark the anniversary of the bomb, an event which has been carried out ever since. A trio of cherry trees were planted on the church grounds in dedication to Andrea Dykes, John Light and Nik Moorem. The trees symbolised the three local London communities: Soho, Brick Lane, and Brixton, which were left in chaos by the three nail bombings. Today, the Admiral Duncan will remember the tenth anniversary of the bombing.

There will be a two-minute silence at 6.37 pm at St Anne's Gardens, which will stay open until 7.30pm for those wishing to pay their respects. The Rector of St Anne's Chruch will also say a few words for families and friends.

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Gay pub nailbomber's sick penpal pleas to Scots prisoners

Nazi nail bomber David Copeland has been writing to Scottish prisoners begging them to find him teenage girls as pen pals.

Copeland is serving six life sentences for murdering three people and injuring 139 in a reign of terror nine years ago. The 30-year-old homophobe and racist planted a series of home-made bombs targeting gay and ethnic communities. Now the Brixton Bomber, who admired Hitler and Saddam Hussein, is writing to Scottish inmates, moaning about life in jail.

In one letter, the neo-Nazi begs a Scot accused of attempted murder to find him a pretty young pen pal. In the letter, written before last month's ruling that Copeland will serve at least 50 years before he is considered for parole, he says: "I ain't had a girl for five years, only 25 to go. I wouldn't have to wait that long if the patriotic community got their fingers out and done something."

He then launches into a vile attack on Jews, adding: "Well life's a bitch, trust me to pick the losing side. Sorry to sound such a pessimist but the truth is the truth, the Aryans are finished."

The triple killer then asks his pen pal: "Do you know any attractive girls who would like to write to me?"

Copeland, a member of the National Socialist Movement, was caged in 2000 for a 13-day killing spree across London in 1999. He planted a bomb in Brixton market in South London and, days later, he planted another home-made bomb in Brick Lane, hoping to kill Asians.

His most devastating bomb ripped through a gay pub in Soho, killing pregnant Andrea Dykes, 27, John Light, 32, and Nik Moore, 31. The wounded included a baby whose skull was impaled by a nail.

Copeland was held in the high-security Broadmoor hospital until 2004, where his mental state was assessed. He was moved to London's tough Belmarsh prison in 2004. Last month, it was ruled he will not be released until at least 2049.

Daily Record