2. The Murder of Donk Ambridge

Jimmy O’Connor was a small-time thief, making the most of the opportunities war torn London presented to him. How did he end up in a condemned cell at Pentonville?

On the Easter weekend 1941, a man is murdered in a London suburb. The police have little evidence to go on, and the usual suspects are pulled in for questioning. Among them is 23-year-old Jimmy O’Connor. He’s eventually charged and tried for the crime, though he maintains his innocence. Sentenced to death, the outlook is bleak as Jimmy awaits his final appointment with hangman Albert Pierrepoint.

Presenter: Ragnar O’Connor

Producer: Emily Esson, Victoria McArthur

Research: Elizabeth Ann Duffy, Louise Yeoman

Script Assistant and Additional Research: Marisha Currie

Script Writers: Emily Esson, Jack Kibble-White

Original Music: Lomond Campbell

Theme Music: Barry Jackson

Addition mixing and sound effects: Charlie McPhee, Kayleigh Raphel

Story Consultant: Jack Kibble-White

Script Editor: Graham Russell

Executive Editor: Gillian Wheelan

Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams

Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke

A BBC Audio Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

Archive: The Russell Harty Show, ITV, April 1976

Thanks to Cheryl Field, Richard Field and Kirsty Williams