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How a regional daily helped catch a bomber

The key role played by a south coast daily in catching a bomber and blackmailer will feature in an ITV documentary tonight.

The channel’s Real Crime series will look at the case of Robert Dyer, left, who hit the headlines in 2001 as he terrorised Dorset by sending explosive devices and threats to staff and customers of Tesco.

At the time police joined forces with Bournemouth’s Daily Echo to launch an undercover operation, with the paper printing secret coded messages to help catch the 50-year-old.

During his six-month campaign, Dyer demanded that credit-card style loyalty cards were distributed to thousands of people through the Daily Echo.

He intended for the cards to be used at cashpoints but only he would know the PIN numbers, enabling him to withdraw cash at £1,000 a time. Dyer planned to buy multiple copies of the Daily Echo and use the cards to obtain the money.

He communicated with police officers via the personal ads section of the Daily Echo.

In June 2001 he received 16 years after pleading guilty to nine charges of blackmail and one of common assault after sending a letter bomb to a elderly couple which exploded in the 70-year-old woman’s face.

At the time, police did not reveal the exact circumstances which led to Dyer’s arrest but then detective chief inspector Phil James praised the Echo’s involvement.

He said: “This proves that trust can operate between the police and the media.

“Dorset Police would like to place on record their thanks for the assistance provided by the Daily Echo.”

  • The Tesco Bomber: Real Crime starts at 10.30pm on ITV tonight.