Bio

Donald George Thomas was born in 1924 in Enfield, London. He grew up in a time that was challenging for many people in England. Little is known about his early childhood, but as he grew older, he started to get into trouble with the law.

At the age of sixteen, Donald was sent to an approved school, which is a type of institution for young people who break the law. After this, he joined the army in January 1945, but he deserted shortly after being called up. For two years, he was on the run from military authorities.

In 1947, Donald turned himself in and faced charges for desertion. He was sentenced to 160 days in detention. After serving his time, he was released but did not stay out of trouble for long. He deserted the army again and began living in different places in London.

Donald eventually settled in Clapham, where he got involved with a woman named Noreen Winklass. Noreen had left her home and children to be with him. Their relationship contributed to his unstable lifestyle.

By February 1948, Donald was wanted by the police. He was under suspicion for various crimes, including burglaries in the area. Four days after a tragic event involving a police officer, he was arrested in a boarding house while trying to hide from the authorities.

Murder Story

On February 13, 1948, Police Constable Nathaniel Edgar was on duty in Wades Hill, north London. He was investigating a series of burglaries when he noticed Donald George Thomas acting suspiciously. PC Edgar stopped to question him. In a sudden turn of events, Thomas shot Edgar three times. The sound of gunfire alarmed people in the vicinity, and they rushed to find a man fleeing the scene.

PC Edgar was discovered lying in a driveway. He was taken to the hospital, where he died an hour later. Before passing, he was able to inform his colleagues that he had noted down the name and address of his assailant, Donald Thomas, in his pocketbook. The police began their search for Thomas and quickly traced him to lodgings in Clapham.

Four days later, police located Thomas in a boarding house. When they attempted to arrest him, he tried to reach for a gun hidden under his pillow. Officers overpowered him. The bullets from the gun matched those that killed PC Edgar. Additionally, the landlady testified that Thomas had confessed to her about the murder.

Donald George Thomas had a troubled past, including periods of probation and being sent to an approved school as a youth. He had previously deserted from military service. His trial took place at the Old Bailey in April 1948, where he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. However, his sentence was later changed to life imprisonment. Thomas was released on license in April 1962.