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Who was timeshare king John 'Goldfinger' Palmer? Who was timeshare king John 'Goldfinger' Palmer?
(about 2 hours later)
Detectives say a professional hitman was behind the murder of notorious gangster John "Goldfinger" Palmer. So what might a man who wore body armour under his designer suits have done to upset the criminal underworld?Detectives say a professional hitman was behind the murder of notorious gangster John "Goldfinger" Palmer. So what might a man who wore body armour under his designer suits have done to upset the criminal underworld?
John "Goldfinger" Palmer kept a sign on his office desk which read: "Remember the golden rule - he who has the gold makes the rules."John "Goldfinger" Palmer kept a sign on his office desk which read: "Remember the golden rule - he who has the gold makes the rules."
But the former scrap metal dealer from Olton, near Birmingham, was also fond of breaking them, going on to become one of Britain's most prolific criminals.But the former scrap metal dealer from Olton, near Birmingham, was also fond of breaking them, going on to become one of Britain's most prolific criminals.
He started young - selling paraffin off the back of a lorry, having left school at 15 a serial truant who learned to neither read or write.He started young - selling paraffin off the back of a lorry, having left school at 15 a serial truant who learned to neither read or write.
He then moved on to work as a jewellery dealer in Bristol, a job which some might speculate gave him a taste for precious metals.He then moved on to work as a jewellery dealer in Bristol, a job which some might speculate gave him a taste for precious metals.
But it was for his involvement in the 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery at Heathrow Airport which he became infamous and earned him his nickname.But it was for his involvement in the 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery at Heathrow Airport which he became infamous and earned him his nickname.
More than £25m worth of gold was stolen in what was considered at the time as the biggest robbery to have ever taken place in the UK.More than £25m worth of gold was stolen in what was considered at the time as the biggest robbery to have ever taken place in the UK.
Mr Palmer, who was one of seven children, was said to have melted the metal down in his back garden.Mr Palmer, who was one of seven children, was said to have melted the metal down in his back garden.
However, he denied knowing it was stolen and was acquitted in 1987, blowing kisses to the jury from the dock when the verdict was delivered.However, he denied knowing it was stolen and was acquitted in 1987, blowing kisses to the jury from the dock when the verdict was delivered.
Worth around £500m in today's prices, most of the gold has never been recovered and the case remains open.Worth around £500m in today's prices, most of the gold has never been recovered and the case remains open.
In the decade that followed, he seemingly managed to stay out of trouble, but it was not the case behind the scenes.In the decade that followed, he seemingly managed to stay out of trouble, but it was not the case behind the scenes.
He was secretly building a massive timeshare scam in Tenerife which propelled him to 105th on the Sunday Times Rich List, a position he shared with the Queen.He was secretly building a massive timeshare scam in Tenerife which propelled him to 105th on the Sunday Times Rich List, a position he shared with the Queen.
His criminal activities netted him an estimated fortune of £300m, which he used to buy a mansion, a French chateau with its own golf course, a jet, two helicopters, a classic car collection and a yacht called the Brave Goose of Essex.His criminal activities netted him an estimated fortune of £300m, which he used to buy a mansion, a French chateau with its own golf course, a jet, two helicopters, a classic car collection and a yacht called the Brave Goose of Essex.
But Mr Palmer knew he was playing a risky game, having left about 20,000 victims out of pocket, and he took to wearing body armour underneath his designer suits.But Mr Palmer knew he was playing a risky game, having left about 20,000 victims out of pocket, and he took to wearing body armour underneath his designer suits.
Justice eventually caught up with him and he was jailed for eight years in 2001 for the Spanish scam.Justice eventually caught up with him and he was jailed for eight years in 2001 for the Spanish scam.
Mr Palmer represented himself - his defence being he was so rich he did not need to be involved with the fraud.Mr Palmer represented himself - his defence being he was so rich he did not need to be involved with the fraud.
Roy Ramm, ex-commander of specialist operations at the Metropolitan Police, testified against him during the trial and describes him as "a strange man", who was well aware of the number of enemies he had accrued over the years.Roy Ramm, ex-commander of specialist operations at the Metropolitan Police, testified against him during the trial and describes him as "a strange man", who was well aware of the number of enemies he had accrued over the years.
"He was quite an arrogant man, which led him to dismissing his barrister," he said."He was quite an arrogant man, which led him to dismissing his barrister," he said.
John Palmer: The family man
Mr Palmer was arrested at his second home in Tenerife in 2007 and charged with fraud, firearm possession and money laundering.Mr Palmer was arrested at his second home in Tenerife in 2007 and charged with fraud, firearm possession and money laundering.
His family insists he had turned his life around by the time of his death, but he was about to stand trial and some were said to be concerned about what he would say in court.His family insists he had turned his life around by the time of his death, but he was about to stand trial and some were said to be concerned about what he would say in court.
Another theory is he was a police informant, which would have worried many in the underworld. Officers say his colourful past finally caught up with him in the form of a professional hitman.Another theory is he was a police informant, which would have worried many in the underworld. Officers say his colourful past finally caught up with him in the form of a professional hitman.
"He probably felt he was quite safe out in South Weald while he was at home," Mr Ramm said."He probably felt he was quite safe out in South Weald while he was at home," Mr Ramm said.
Clearly Mr Palmer was mistaken.Clearly Mr Palmer was mistaken.