Desmond Cussen was a British RAF pilot and businessman whose life became tied to Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in Britain. His connection to her tragic story made him a central figure in a historic case.
| Name | Desmond Cussen |
| Age | 68 years old (at the time of his death in 1991) |
| Date of Birth | 1923 |
| Gender | Male |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Place of Birth | Epsom, Surrey, England |
| Nationality | British |
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Desmond Cussen Biography
Desmond Cussen was a British businessman and former Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot whose life became linked to one of the most controversial legal cases in Britain. He was born in 1923 in Epsom, Surrey, England, into a wealthy family. He is best remembered for his close relationship with Ruth Ellis, the nightclub manager who became the last woman to be hanged in Britain in 1955.
Cussen lived much of his early life in privilege, later serving his country during World War II before moving into business. However, his name is often remembered not for his personal achievements but for his connection to Ruth Ellis’s tragic story.
Desmond’s Educational Background
Desmond Cussen had a privileged upbringing and attended one of Britain’s most elite schools. He enrolled in 1932 and studied there until 1940. Although he was not considered academically outstanding, he excelled in sports and leadership activities.
At school, he was a rugby and tennis player, a member of the boxing team, a Lance Corporal in the Officer Training Corps (OTC), and most notably, a first-class marksman. This skill with firearms would later cast a long shadow over his life when Ruth Ellis claimed he had given her the gun used in the murder of David Blakely.
Desmond Career
At just 17, Cussen joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. He trained in South Africa and specialized in flying heavy bombers, particularly the Lancaster Bomber, which played a crucial role in the war. He served until 1946, earning respect as a skilled pilot.
After leaving the RAF, he entered his family’s business, Cussen & Co., a successful tobacco company with outlets in London and South Wales. He later became a director of the company, using the leadership skills he gained in the military.
Outside of business, Desmond frequented London’s high-end clubs and bars. It was during this period that he met Ruth Ellis at her nightclub in Knightsbridge, setting the stage for the tragic events that followed.
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Desmond Awards
Cussen’s service in the RAF during World War II was notable. His role as a bomber pilot in one of Britain’s most important wartime aircraft remains one of his life’s most significant achievements.
Desmond Controversy
Desmond’s life was overshadowed by controversy due to his relationship with Ruth Ellis. She was involved in a toxic relationship with racing driver David Blakely, which ended in violence. On Easter Sunday in 1955, Ellis shot and killed Blakely.
Reports suggested that Cussen had:
- Provided Ellis with the gun,
- Taught her how to use it,
- And even driven her to the scene.
However, Cussen denied giving her the weapon, and he was never formally prosecuted. Ellis never implicated him directly, which weakened her defense and contributed to her execution.
The case attracted massive public attention and protests, eventually playing a role in the abolition of the death penalty in 1969.
Desmond Age
Desmond Cussen was born in 1923 and died in 1991, making him about 68 years old at the time of his death.
Desmond’s Death
After Ruth Ellis’s execution in 1955, Cussen was left devastated and eventually relocated to Australia. He lived there for several decades and reportedly struggled with alcoholism. He passed away in 1991 in his late 60s, having largely withdrawn from the public eye.
Desmond Personal Life
Cussen lived a relatively private life outside of his involvement with Ruth Ellis. He provided her with financial and emotional support and even gave her a place to stay at his Devonshire Street home in London during her troubled relationship with Blakely.
Although described as intelligent and well-mannered, his connection to Ellis marked him forever in the public memory.
Desmond Wife
Desmond was never married. He is best remembered as Ruth Ellis’s lover during her troubled relationship with David Blakely. While Ellis herself was married twice, Cussen remained unmarried and linked to her tragic story.
Desmond Parents
Desmond Cussen came from a wealthy family based in Surrey. His family owned Cussen & Co., a tobacco company where he later worked as a director. However, the names of his parents are not widely documented.
