Don Beech

Don Beech

Service Record

Don Beech D.S. Don Beech Full Name: Donald Beech IC: Gender 1   Male Occupation: Former Police Officer Metropolitan Police     Sun Hill Rank: Detective Sergeant Status: Arrested by C.I.B. ●  Service Record  ● ●  Criminal Record  ● Portrayed by: Billy Murray  ● First Appearance: Expert Witness  ● Last Appearance: All Fall Down, Part Two List of Appearances

Don Beech had spent 30 years in the job, with his own methods of dealing with villains and often sailing close to the wind. An old sweat who remained Sergeant because of his single-mindedness - his time keeping was his own business. Deakin often hesitated to reprimand him, recognising a like-mind. Beech refused to seek approval for his choice of friends and wasn't afraid to risk the disapproval of his colleagues and superiors. He was a maverick that did things his own way and got results. It wasn’t all hard-boiled detective work for him though – he loved a gamble and had an eye for the women too. A charmer with a past, Beech was a good police detective who liked to operate solo allowing him to bend the rules and line his own pockets.

He finally crossed the line in 1998 by lying in court in exchange for £20,000 paid by a gangland boss. CIB became aware of his corrupt activities and placed undercover officer DS Stanton at Sun Hill to expose him. Beech came undone when his relationship with arch villain Fallon spiraled out of control leading him to murder his colleague DS Boulton. To Stanton's disgust Beech did a deal with her boss and appeared to be prepared to turn himself in. However he managed to keep one step ahead and with the help of his girlfriend Maggie escaped to Australia.

Beech decided to turn villain and go for big money in Sydney. He took part in bank and pub raids and tried to set up deals with local crime syndicates. It was a gamble that didn't pay off and led to him having to let the world think he was dead. Putting his new anonymity to good use, Beech came back to England and masterminded a robbery that would have set him up for life. However, Claire Stanton tracked him down and brought him to justice.

Beech was sent to prison for life but Don made a Sun Hill comeback in May 2004, offering to exchange information on a diamond robbery for a cushier jail. But he had the last laugh. While being transferred he convinced DI Manson to give him a quiet moment with his girlfriend...and escaped. He's now on the run.

Service Record

Main article: Service Record

• 2000 - The Murder of D.S. John Boulton
• 2001 - On The Run: Australia
• 2001 - On The Run: England
• 2004 - The Grass: Don Beech
• 2004 - Don Beech On The Run

Family and Relationships

Beech's long-term girlfriend was Maggie (Linda Lusardi), who helped him evade capture in All Fall Down and helped him escape from prison in Episode 216.

Major Storylines

1. 1998 - Accepted a £20,000 bribe from a criminal to deliberately botch his own testimony at a trial, allowing the criminal to walk free, after which the CIB planted DS Clare Stanton undercover at Sun Hill to expose his corruption. (Good Faith)

• 2000 - Investigating a recent theft of credit cards, Beech confronts the perpetrator - a local crack addict named Billy Bullock - and offers to destroy the CCTV tape in return for a £1000 bribe. CIB mole DS Stanton suspects that Beech is personally profiting from his investigation and follows him after overhearing the agreed drop-off point. She watches Bullock place the money into a dumpster, but is interrupted by DS Boulton at the crucial moment and misses Beech collecting the money. (Love or Money)

• 2000 - Became acquainted with businessman and criminal Howard Fallon in Supping with the Devil. Fallon offered Beech a bribe to track down the cargo of a hijacked lorry before the police did. When a lap dancer at one of Fallon's clubs was found murdered, Beech was furious when he discovered Fallon had given her his mobile number. He convinced John Boulton that he had briefly known her and persuaded him to destroy the evidence.

• 2000 - Revealed his corruption to Boulton and requested his help, which Boulton refused. They got into a fight, during which Beech accidentally killed Boulton after hitting his head against the ground. Beech fled to Australia, narrowly avoiding Stanton's attempts to apprehend him.

• 2001 - Beech's story continued in the special episode Beech on the Run, where he became a part of the criminal underworld in Australia, participating in bank robberies and drug deals. Stanton was again tracking him, but had to watch from the shore as Beech was apparently killed when his boat exploded.

• 2001 - Beech had in fact faked his death and returned to England in the mini-series Beech is Back, where he tried to organise a £6million diamond heist. Stanton finally trapped Beech and he was arrested, tried and sentenced to life imprisonment.

• 2004 - Now in prison, Beech befriended DI Neil Manson and offered information on police corruption in exchange for a transfer to a lower category prison. In Episode 216 Beech escaped after overpowering Manson and DS Phil Hunter while being transferred and has not been heard from since.