John Maden

Case details

John Maden was convicted after pleading guilty to the rape and murder of his sister’s daughter, Tia Rigg.

Victim

Tia Rigg was 12 years old. Her life dates were 4 January 1998 - 3 April 2010.

Lynn Rigg was Tia Rigg’s mother.

Timeline

• 3 April 2010 — Maden telephoned Tia Rigg’s mother and asked for Tia to go to his home in Dalmain Close, Cheetham Hill to babysit his ten-year-old daughter.
• 3 April 2010 — After Tia arrived, Maden drugged her with Olanzapine, an antipsychotic tranquilizer that he had been prescribed.
• 3 April 2010 — Maden inflicted a “horrific catalogue of sexual injuries” on Tia, then stabbed her and strangled her with a ligature made from a guitar string.
• 3 April 2010 — Maden telephoned 999 at 3:45pm, reported “a murder,” and said, “My niece has been murdered by me ... I have just finished killing her now.”
• 3 April 2010 — Greater Manchester Police arrived at the address two minutes later; Maden opened the door and directed them upstairs.
• 4 October 2010 — Maden was tried at Manchester Crown Court on the date stated.
• 4 October 2010 — Maden was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he should never be released.

Background

Maden developed an obsessive interest in images and literature relating to paedophilia, rape and torture.

Police had found “hundreds of extreme images of child abuse and violent pornography” on Maden’s laptop, with more material on his mobile phone in folders named “snuff”, “snuff stories” and “brutal rape”.

Maden had an extensive library of materials that included literature dealing with methods of killing.

Maden refused to explain his actions and had never shown remorse for the killing.

The offence

On 3 April 2010, Maden telephoned Tia Rigg’s mother and asked for Tia to go to his home in Dalmain Close, Cheetham Hill to babysit his ten-year-old daughter.

When Tia arrived at 3:00pm, Maden drugged her with Olanzapine, an antipsychotic tranquilizer that he had been prescribed.

Maden inflicted a “horrific catalogue of sexual injuries” on Tia before stabbing her and strangling her with a ligature made from a guitar string.

After killing her, at 3:45pm Maden telephoned 999.

Investigation and police response

Maden made a 999 call and reported a murder.

Greater Manchester Police officers arrived two minutes after the call.

Maden opened the door to the officers. They described him as “chillingly calm,” and he directed them upstairs.

The officers found Tia Rigg’s body face-up on the floor of a spare bedroom, naked except for her socks.

The ligature made from a guitar string was still fastened around her neck.

Her hands were tied behind her back with shoelaces.

Next to the body were two knives, a broom handle and a sex toy, all of which were stained with blood.

An autopsy found that Tia Rigg suffered severe blood loss from her stab wounds and internal injuries, but the primary cause of death was ligature strangulation.

Arrest

Maden was arrested when police arrived two minutes after the 999 call.

After his arrest, Maden claimed he had been listening to a “bad voice” in his head controlling him and telling him what to do.

Maden told police he heard “voices – one good voice and one bad voice” in his head but admitted the rape and murder of his niece.

Trial

Maden was tried at Manchester Crown Court on 4 October 2010.

The prosecutor Gordon Cole QC told the court:

“In the year or so prior to April this year, the defendant had developed what can properly be described as an obsessive interest in images and literature relating to paedophilia, rape and torture. He had an extensive library of such materials which included literature dealing with methods of killing.”

Detective Chief Inspector David Warren, who led the investigation, revealed that Maden refused to explain his actions and had never shown remorse for the killing.

After pleading guilty to rape and murder, Maden was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he should never be released.

Sentencing

Mr Justice Keith sentenced Maden to life imprisonment with a recommendation that he should never be released.

Maden was sentenced on 4 October 2010.

The sentencing remarks included:

“It is inescapable that Tia Rigg died because you decided to realise your fantasies about torturing and killing a young child. It is difficult to know how long Tia's ordeal lasted. The terror, the unimaginable pain you inflicted on her, the indignities you subjected her to while still alive. It was planned, it was premeditated and her agony must have been prolonged. This is one of those exceptional cases in which the only just punishment requires you to be imprisoned for the rest of your life.”

Outcome

Maden pleaded guilty and received a life sentence with a recommendation that he should never be released.

The case was described as an “exceptional” case where the only just punishment required imprisonment for the rest of his life.

Aftermath

A report issued regarding the case found a catalogue of “serious failings” by social services bosses charged with caring for the girl.

The report said social workers missed seven chances to help Tia Rigg, who had been placed on the ‘at risk’ register before she was even born.

The report stated that social workers could have intervened to protect her from the severe behavioural problems suffered by her mother, Lynn Rigg.

The report stated that Lynn Rigg had seven children by four different fathers, a history of heroin and crack cocaine addiction and a criminal record for robbery and assault.

The report said there were seven incidents which should have prompted children’s services to consider taking Tia and her siblings into care.

The incidents included her mother attempting suicide in front of her children, leaving them home alone, and regular violence between family members at her home in Salford.

The report said social workers had an ‘over-optimistic and unrealistic perception’ of her ability to care for her children and failed to appreciate the chaos of Tia’s family life.

Quotations

999 call transcript

Maden:

“Hi, I would like to report a murder.”

Operator:

“Well what's happened there?”

Maden:

“My niece has been murdered by me.”

Operator:

“When has this happened?”

Maden:

Operator:

“Why have you done that?”

Maden:

“Because I felt like it.”

Maden gave her name as Tia Rigg and wrongly reported her age as 11.

Maden:

“I am quite sure the officers that come to the house will be able to take all the details you need.”

Operator:

“How's it happened?”

Maden:

“I have used... with a knife and strangulation and that's it, bye.”

Statements by Tia Rigg’s mother

Lynn Rigg:

“Tia was loved by everyone, family and friends, but to me she wasn't just my daughter, she was my best friend.
When this nightmare happened, it killed me inside. My heart has been broken and will never mend. All that is left is a big empty hole ... but now justice has been done, at least Tia can rest in peace.”

Lynn Rigg:

“Tia was a bright young girl who had her whole life ahead of her. She trusted her uncle and thought she was going to his house to babysit. He not only caused suffering to Tia but also to her family. He's refused to try and ease some of the pain by telling anyone why he did this and that has added to their upset. He will now have a long time to reflect on what he has done.”