John Wheater

Solicitor involved in the property arrangements around Leatherslade Farm who was convicted in connection with the aftermath of the Great Train Robbery.

Editorial standard

Convictions, acquittals, allegations and contextual links are kept distinct. A graph connection does not imply conduct beyond the relationship stated.

Background

Wheater’s role was fundamentally different from the men who boarded the train. He belonged to the professional-services side of the conspiracy.

Case / activity

His legal office became connected to the purchase and handling of Leatherslade Farm, the hideout used after the robbery.

Legal outcome

The case illustrates how major organized robberies require facilitators in addition to armed or physical participants.

Later context

the archive should not present Wheater as one of the men who physically robbed the train.

Graph role

His strongest graph value is the Leatherslade Farm chain linking Brian Field, Leonard Field and the robbery planners.

Network links

– Great Train Robbery — facilitator / convicted in connected case – Leatherslade Farm — property / concealment context – Criminal facilitators — professional-services role

Direct people links

– Brian Field — legal-office / property transaction connection – Leonard Field — farm-purchase chain

Sources

– The Postal Museum / Google Arts & Culture. The Great Train Robbery (archive feature). https://artsandculture.google.com/story/aAWRARcgrhkA8A – British Transport Police. The Great Train Robbery, 1963 (current archive). https://www.btp.police.uk/police-forces/british-transport-police/areas/about-us/about-us/our-history/crime-history/great-train-robbery/