It was bad enough for Sidney Goulters parents when at 15 he started openly masturbating around the house. It became even worse when he developed a fixation on his mother, following her from room to room.
His father, a retired police inspector, became so worried about the safety of Sidneys young sister that he escorted her to and from school to protect her from her brother. He also made sure she locked her bedroom door every night.
Matters eased when Sidney became older and left home, finding work as an engineer. But now his parents worried about where he was and what he might be up to.
Their fears increased in October 1927, when the strangled body of Constance Oliver, a 21-year-old typist, was found in undergrowth in Richmond Park, not far from the Goulters home in Kingston-on-Thames. She had been reported missing by her parents when she failed to return to their Battersea home three days earlier, on OCTOBER 2nd.
Sidney Goulter was now 25. His father had often discussed his worries with his former colleagues, and in view of Sidneys known behaviour he became an obvious suspect. A search was launched for him, and he was spotted in Putney and arrested.
He admitted attacking and strangling Constance in the park, but at his trial at Surrey Assizes his counsel submitted a defence of insanity.
I have had nine years solid worry over this lad, his distressed father told the court, but doctors testified that Sidney Goulter was sane.
Convicted of murder, he was hanged at Wandsworth Prison on January 6th, 1928.