Orchids Children
MAMAA organised the vigil outside Wandsworth prison when paedophile Sidney Cooke was due to be released. Despite the fact that Jack Straw had promised to change the law regarding dangerous sex offenders, this did not happen. Sidney Cooke, Leslie Bailey, Lennie Smith and Robert Oliver took part in the murders of many children who were never found. They became known as the Orchids Children. Cooke and Oliver were released after just 8 years for the manslaughter of 14 year old Jason Swift, Barry Lewis and Mark Tildesley who has never been found. Cooke was arrested soon after release in connection with other offences on young males and is now back in prison.

With the help of Radio Five Live’s Magenta Devine, we were able to highlight a case where families are stalked from prison with phone calls and letters before and after a murder, despite numerous requests to the authorities to have this stopped. The Daily Express also picked up on the story, which led to the Police Federation promising to change the laws on stalking from prison.

We use to produce a quarterly newsletter with information, case histories and letters from the families we are in contact with. Several families told us that it was a vital part of what MAMAA did. The newsletter put people in touch with each other, informed them of future events, other places to go for help, changes in the law, their rights regarding trials etc and lets them know they are not alone. Unfortunately we can no longer afford to fund the cost of printing and postage but hope that this web site will give you the information you need MAMAA writes letters to MP’s, the CPS, Coroners, Police Officers etc on behalf of families and tries to find information when it is not forthcoming. Although we have no legal training we have contact with some very good solicitors and will find out as much as we can on behalf of victims families, often they are too upset to do this themselves.

Back