Guppy’s Insurance Fraud in Crime Docudramas
How Peter Risdon’s Information—Not Stuart Collier's Tabloid Tactics—Led to Darius Guppy’s Downfall
This journal entry examines two prominent crime docudramas that delve into the Darius Guppy and Peter Marsh insurance fraud targeting Lloyd’s, with key involvement from Peter Risdon, who later became a police informant. Stuart Collier is featured nowhere.
The Relevance of Darius Guppy to the Collier Exposed Investigation
One might question why the Collier Exposed investigative project dedicates significant attention to Darius Guppy. The answer lies in the high-profile fallout from Guppy’s activities, intertwined with figures like Boris Johnson and Charles Spencer. This web of influence inadvertently elevated Stuart Collier's public profile when it was revealed that he was the target of a retribution beating in the notorious “Guppygate” scandal. Our investigation reveals that Stuart Collier's haphazard involvement in this saga underscores his pattern of gutter journalistic practices, making it highly relevant to expose his conduct.
Stuart Collier’s Tall Claim To Guppy Investigation
Following the exposure of the Guppygate scandal—initially dubbed the “Johnson Tapes”—it became evident that Stuart Collier exaggerated his significance. The tapes, recorded by Peter Risdon in 1990, captured Guppy seeking assistance from his Etonian friend, Boris Johnson, then a Telegraph journalist, to obtain the private contact details of Stuart Collier. Guppy, enraged by Stuart Collier’s intrusion into his and his partner Patricia Holder’s life, plotted retaliation.
Only after the Daily Mail's 1995 exposé did Stuart Collier's name gain widespread attention. In a retrospective attempt to sanitise his image, Stuart Collier claimed his reporting was instrumental in exposing Guppy’s fraud—despite clear evidence that Risdon had already informed the authorities in 1991. Our investigation meticulously dissects this timeline, proving Stuart Collier had no substantial connection to Guppy’s fraud case. In fact, the tabloid article Stuart Collier was working on, later published by his Fleet Street associate Geoff Sutton in early 1993, had no bearing on Guppy’s arrest.
The Two Crime Docudramas
1. Relevant Clip from Crime Story: The Prince (S02E01)
The clip below shows Peter Risdon at the point of turning police informant against Darius Guppy who is subsequently arrested by the Regional Crime Squad 9 in July 1991.
Aired: September 22, 1993
We secured exclusive access to this docudrama, produced by LWT, archived at the BFI. The cast includes James Purefoy (Darius Guppy), Christine Ashe (Patricia Guppy), Peter Hilton (Charles Althorp), Jo Stone-Fewings (Benedict Marsh), and Stevan Rimkus (Peter Risdon).
The depicted events make no mention of Stuart Collier or any journalist as a pivotal figure in Guppy’s downfall. Given the production’s reliance on contemporaneous press reports, this omission is particularly telling.
Show Headlines At The Time
The producers and cast of The Prince offered insightful commentary on their portrayal of Darius Guppy’s story. Jeff Pope, the programme’s producer, explained their approach: “To make the programme, we spoke to his friends and associates. We didn’t speak to him or his family.” Pope sought to understand Guppy’s trajectory, noting, “He was a brilliant scholar, he was well connected. Friends loved him.” This focus on Guppy’s complex character aligns with his public image—a charismatic figure whose charm belied his involvement in a £1.8 million insurance fraud. Patricia Guppy (née Holder) provided personal reflections after viewing the programme, stating with amusement, “Is this my husband? It’s hilarious,” and adding, “That’s supposed to be me? Mummy, tell me, do I sound like that?” She further remarked on specific scenes, saying, “Darius isn’t that sort of person. He’s more interested in romance. They’re trying to make it look like something out of 9½ Weeks.” Despite these reactions, the programme captures key elements of Guppy’s life, from his Oxford days alongside Charles Althorp to his eventual conviction and imprisonment. Christine Ashe, who portrayed Patricia, reflected on preparing for the role: “I would have loved to have met her, but I didn’t know anything about Patricia until I read the newspaper clippings.” These insights from the production team and those connected to Guppy provide a layered perspective on the man behind the scandal.
2. Relevant Clip from Daring Capers: Earl Spencer's Best Man (S02E07)
The clip below again shows Peter Risdon turning police informant against Darius Guppy, highlighting the events leading up to and including Guppy’s arrest.
Aired: September 5, 2000
Produced by New Dominion Pictures, this U.S. docudrama offers a measured retelling of the events, incorporating insights from law enforcement, notably Raymond Burke, and journalists. The program also features intriguing archival footage from the time. Despite airing post-Guppygate revelations, it attributes Guppy’s prosecution solely to Peter Risdon’s cooperation as a police informant, dismissing Stuart Collier’s inflated claims.
Notably, the website Nobody Likes A Grass is believed to be Guppy’s retaliatory casefile against Risdon for his role as an informant against him. The site is archived here: Nobody Likes A Grass.
Conclusion
Despite Stuart Collier's subsequent attempts to portray himself as a key figure in Guppy’s exposure, no credible evidence supports this narrative—not even circumstantial. All available records, including these docudramas, underscore Stuart Collier’s role as nothing more than a Murdoch tabloid journalist undertaking typical tabloid activities. His claims crumble under scrutiny, exposing a pattern of sensationalism and opportunism rather than genuine investigative prowess.