Barry Prudom

Barry Peter Prudom (born Barry Edwards; 18 October 1944 – 4 July 1982), dubbed the Phantom of the Forest, was an English electrician and multiple murderer who became the subject of what was, at the time, the largest manhunt in British history. Prudom became a fugitive after killing PC David Haigh on 17 June 1982. He proceeded to kill twice more, shooting civilian George Luckett on 23 June and Sergeant David Winter on 28 June.

Described as an "avid outdoorsman and firearms enthusiast", Prudom's knowledge of military survival skills learned while training with the Special Air Service (SAS) helped him evade capture for eighteen days as he hid out in rural areas in the north of England. When eventually found, having been tracked by "Jungle" Eddie McGee, a former SAS instructor, he died by suicide by firing a single shot to his head.

Early life Barry Prudom was the illegitimate son of Kathleen Edwards, a Leeds dressmaker, and Peter Kurylo, a soldier serving with the British Army. Kurylo played no part in Prudom's upbringing and the two never met. Prudom lived with his mother at 39 Grosvenor Place, Leeds, and attended Blenheim Primary School and Meanwood Secondary School. His last name was changed in 1949 when his mother married Alex Prudom.

Marital breakdown Prudom subsequently established himself as a grocer, and purchased a shop for his wife on Quarry Street, Leeds, but by 1977 he was working for the petroleum industry in Saudi Arabia to earn more money. While he was there his wife left him for another man. Francis had by now left Prudom and moved out of the house in Leeds where they had been living.

Illegal possession of firearms Prudom did not hold a licence to possess firearms, but carried a .22 LR calibre Beretta Model 71 "Jaguar" pistol, which he had purchased in the US and smuggled back into Britain. He stole £4.50 from her then left, saying later that he had been unconcerned about her welfare as he knew "the bread man would find her in the morning". After Prudom left the scene, Mrs Luckett managed to crawl to a nearby house and raise the alarm with neighbours. Ballistic tests proved that the same gun had been used in the killings of Haigh and Luckett, and the police released Prudom's name to the media as their prime suspect. Prudom became the most wanted man in Britain. After then firing at a Guardian journalist and a BBC news crew, Prudom escaped from the scene through a nearby alley. Heavy rain hampered the search efforts for the next two days, and despite the presence of 600 officers, including 100 armed officers, the use of dogs and the Royal Air Force's Westland Wessex helicopters, Prudom eluded capture.

30 June – Eddie McGee joins manhunt Eddie McGee (c. 1938–2002), nicknamed "Jungle Eddie" by colleagues, was a former Physical Training Instructor from the Parachute Regiment and had served as an NCO in 22 Special Air Service Regiment. Having completed twenty-two years of service, McGee had retired from the Army and now operated the National School of Survival, a survival training school near Harrogate.

McGee and a colleague, Eric Longden, joined the manhunt at Dalby Forest and then moved on to Malton, where they followed tracks from Winter's body through the town's Old Manor Moor, Huttons Ambo and Low Hutton areas, escorted by an armed police bodyguard from the Central Firearms Unit. After several hours, the search moved suddenly back to Dalby Forest when police were informed that a camouflaged bivouac shelter had been uncovered in a Forestry Commission plantation.

1 July – Siege of Malton Henshaw ordered "the largest arsenal of weapons ever issued to a British police force" and placed a cordon around Malton, sealing off the town. "As the night went on, we got talking as though we had known each other for years. He was calling me Brian and my father he was calling dad". Prudom gave Brian a gift of a United States Army paratrooper's ring, and then, believing the area was relatively safe, tied up the family and left the house at 03:15 on 4 July. Oakley summed up the evidence to the jury by saying: "I would submit to you that there is an abundance of evidence to suggest that he fired the shot that killed himself", and the jury took just 18 minutes to return a verdict of suicide.

In the media Television The manhunt for Prudom has been the subject of at least two television documentaries: Manhunt: Phantom in the Forest – First aired on Britain's ITV2 27 June 2002. Manhunt: Search for the Cop Killer – First aired on Britain's Channel 5 25 July 2023.

In popular culture Oi! band Combat 84 wrote a song titled "Barry Prudom", which was released on 24 September 1983 as the B-side of their Rapist EP, featuring the lyrics: "Barry Prudom, Barry Prudom, He's coming for you with his gun, Barry Prudom, Barry Prudom, He's Public Enemy number one".