John Straffen - Criminal Career

Criminal Career

Accordingly, Straffen returned home to Bath in March 1946 where the Medical Officer of Health examined him and found he still warranted certification under the Mental Deficiency Act. After several short term jobs he found a place as a machinist in a clothing factory. Early in 1947 Straffen began to go into unoccupied homes and steal small items to hide them; he never brought them home nor did he give them to others. Straffen had no friends, and began stealing without being enticed by others.

On 27 July 1947 a 13-year-old girl reported to police that a boy called John had assaulted her by putting his hand over her mouth and saying "What would you do if I killed you? I have done it before." This incident was not connected to Straffen until later. Six weeks later, Straffen was found to have strangled five chickens belonging to the father of a girl with whom he had quarrelled. When arrested Straffen was also under suspicion for burglary, and in interview cheerfully confessed to it and many other incidents to which he had not been connected. He was remanded in custody and the Medical Officer of Horfield prison examined him, certifying that he was mentally retarded. On 10 October Straffen was committed to Hortham Colony in Bristol under the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913.

Hortham was an "open" colony which specialised in training mentally retarded offenders for resettlement in the community. As he had been under investigation for burglary, Straffen's certificate stated that he was "not of violent or dangerous propensities". He was well-behaved at Hortham and kept away from other inmates. As a result, in July 1949 he was transferred to a lower-security agricultural hostel in Winchester. There he did well initially but fell back into old ways when he stole a bag of walnuts, and was sent back to Hortham in February 1950. In August 1950 Straffen got in trouble with Hortham authorities when he went home without leave, and resisted the police when they went to recapture him.