Albert Pierrepoint’s story is one that cannot be forgotten in the country’s history on capital punishment. Born in 1905, he was involved in the executions of more than 435 men and women during a career as a hangman that spanned 25 years.



Born into a family of hangmen, both his father and uncle before him were working executioners, Albert is said to have expressed a desire to follow in their footsteps from a very early age.

Pierrepoint was the executioner of many renowned serial murderers, including Gordon Cummins the ‘Blackout Ripper’ and John George Haigh the ‘Acid-bath murderer’. He was also performed the hangings of British Nazi propaganists John Amery and William Joyce, also known as ‘Lord Haw-Haw’, who were sentenced to death for treason.

Following the Second World War Pierrepoint travelled to Austria and Germany to execute over 200 convicted Nazi war criminals including Josef Kramer, the Commandant of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen and Irma Grese, a female SS guard.

In 1955 Pierrepoint hanged Ruth Ellis, a victim of domestic abuse, that had shot dead her abusive partner. At the time, the execution was extremely controversial and is believed to have strengthened public support of the abolition of the death penalty, which came ten years later.



Albert Pierrepoint retired as a hangman in 1956 and in the 1960s he and his wife relocated to Southport where he lived until his death on 10 July 1992, aged 87.

Pierrepoint wrote his memoir Executioner: Pierrepoint in 1974, in which he reconsidered his views on capital punishment as a deterrent, stating: “All the men and women whom I have faced at that final moment, convince me that in what I have done, I have not prevented a single murder.”

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Including Derek Bentley, I wonder how many other innocent people were killed by this vile individual.

Originally Posted by donkey22

Including Derek Bentley, I wonder how many other innocent people were killed by this vile individual.

How do you know he was a vile individual?

He was doing a job, it wasnt him who decided who was guilty or innocent.

Originally Posted by donkey22

Including Derek Bentley, I wonder how many other innocent people were killed by this vile individual.

What an idiotic comment, I wonder how many murderers have killed again after they have been released?

My father worked with at the GPO and said he took working holidays around the world, in South Africa he would do 6 at a time, sometimes dozens a day.
Nice man.

Originally Posted by Theatrics

What an idiotic comment, I wonder how many murderers have killed again after they have been released?

The figures show a very low rate of recidivism for murderers actually if you’d been bothered to do a quick bit of research.
And so you can justify killing innocent people in the process of killing those who did commit murder?

“.. is said to be a deterrent. I cannot agree. There have been murders since the beginning of time, and we shall go on looking for deterrents until the end of time. If death were a deterrent, I might be expected to know. It is I who have faced them last, young lads and girls, working men, grandmothers. I have been amazed to see the courage with which they take that walk into the unknown. It did not deter them then, and it had not deterred them when they committed what they were convicted for. All the men and women whom I have faced at that final moment convince me that in what I have done I have not prevented a single murder.[78]“-Albert Pierrepoint 1974

While out working as a Hackney driver,and I was dropping off at The Fishermans rest,an old gentleman asked me if I was for hire,to which I said "Yes".so he got in and when asked where he was going said "Take me to Preston New Road please",so I did so,and when I was in Crossens,approaching the now BP Garage,asked me to slow down while passing a large detached house,which he said used to be his home,after a minute or so asked me to take him back to where I picked him up..And when we arrived back at the "Fish",there were 2 carers standing there,and when they saw who was in my car were very relieved.....Found out then it was Albert Pierrepoint,who had somehow found his way out from the care home he was residing at in his later years,and felt a bit shaken for a while,after finding out who had been sat next to me in my car...One of those strange things that happen in this job,you never know who you are going to pick up.

Amazing story Steve

Originally Posted by donkey22

Including Derek Bentley, I wonder how many other innocent people were killed by this vile individual.

The only vile individual here is you.

Originally Posted by justbecause

The only vile individual here is you.

Blah blah blah blah. Is this as original as you can get? Thicko.