Latest Episodes

Episode 561:

The House of Blood

A flat in Glasgow became a crime scene so disturbing that the detective who attended it would later describe it as the most chilling he had ever visited. But how did a night of friends heading to the flat for some drinks end with three murders? This is the story of the House of Blood – a case involving shocking violence, unlikely perpetrators and a series of events that are difficult to comprehend.
Episode 560:

The Trust That Led To Murder

Amy Shepherd was a much-loved and independent woman who had made her home in sheltered accommodation in Bradford. She enjoyed a quiet life and had every reason to feel safe in her own home. But on one ordinary day, Amy was the victim of a truly shocking crime. The investigation that followed would take detectives down a number of different paths, raise some difficult questions and leave Amy’s family waiting an extraordinarily long time for answers. This is a story about trust, betrayal and a determination to find justice, even when the years seem to be slipping away.
Episode 559:

The Man Behind The Messages

Amanda Playle believed she was being harrassed by someone from her past. But as the messages continued, they became increasingly disturbing, with details emerging that suggested the sender knew far more about her daily life than they should. What began as a series of unwanted communications developed into an invasive campaign that affected every part of Amanda’s life, leaving her frightened and struggling to understand who was behind it. In this episode, I look at the story of Amanda Playle, the increasingly sinister messages she received and the shocking truth behind the person responsible.
Episode 558:

The Recording That Witnessed A Murder

Janee Parsons was a young mum who had built a life for herself and her family, but after his business failed, her marriage to Andrew Parsons was in serious difficulty. As Janee began to consider a future away from her husband, events inside their family home in Bicester took a devastating turn. In this episode of the UK True Crime podcasr, I look at Janee’s life, the breakdown of her marriage and the events that led to her tragic death.
Episode 557:

A Short Break Turned to Tragedy | The Cameron House Fire

Today, I look back at the Cameron House fire, a devastating incident at one of Scotland’s best-known hotels that had tragic consequences. I explore the events of that night, the emergency response and the investigation that followed, examining how such a beautiful place associated with relaxation and celebration became the scene of such a terrible tragedy.
Episode 556:

A Conspiracy To Murder

When Jonathan Catchpole’s five-year relationship with his partner came to an end, he could hardly have imagined what would follow. Later, Jonathan was the victim of a shocking shotgun attack that left him seriously injured. As investigators pieced together the evidence, a complex story emerged involving allegations of a conspiracy to murder. But who was behind the attack, and what had led to such violence?
Episode 555:

The Killer Who Escaped Prison

Shaun Walmsley was serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of Anthony Duffy when he managed to escape from custody during a hospital visit. In this episode of the UK True Crime Podcast, I look at the murder which led to Walmsley being sent to prison, and the remarkable circumstances surrounding his escape. How did a convicted murderer manage to get out of custody, and what happened next?
Episode 553:

The Truth Behind Closed Doors

In almost ten years of making the UK True Crime Podcast, I’ve only covered male victims of domestic abuse once before. The vast majority of domestic abuse victims are women abused by men, and that reality should never be overlooked. But in this episode I wanted to tell the stories of two men who suffered horrific abuse at the hands of their female partners. Both cases are deeply upsetting, and both men faced enormous difficulties in speaking out and being believed.
Episode 552:

The Rumour Which Led To Murder

In this episode from Sunderland, I tell the story of Barry Sewell, a man whose life became caught up in a rumour with devastating consequences. The case raises important questions about the dangers of unsubstantiated allegations, how quickly rumours can spread, and what happens when people decide to take the law into their own hands. When does suspicion turn into vigilantism, and what happens when people decide they can act as judge and jury?
Episode 551:

A Bristol Gang

A gang of armed robbers terrorised Bristol for more than a year, targeting banks, building societies and post offices with shotguns and other weapons. But how did they operate, and how did police finally bring them down? In this episode, I look at the robberies, the victims and the remarkable covert operation that eventually led to the gang’s arrest and imprisonment – it is quite a story.
Episode 550:

The Friend Who Led Him To His Death

Today’s story takes us to Plymouth, where we look at the tragic story of Callum Hill and the events surrounding his death. At the heart of the story is a personal dispute between two men and the seemingly futile idea that problems can be settled by arranging a fight. What begins as an argument driven by pride, ego and a refusal to back down ultimately has consequences far beyond the people involved in the original grievance. It is also a story about friendship, trust and how easily someone can become caught up in a situation that was never theirs to begin with.
Episode 549:

The Mystery Of Box Hill

Sixteen-year-old Ruth Wilson disappeared after travelling by taxi to Box Hill in Surrey. She had skipped school and, after being dropped off, was last seen standing alone in the rain on a quiet bridleway as darkness was falling. Ruth had been experiencing difficulties in her personal life, having recently discovered the truth about her biological mother’s death, something that reportedly had a significant impact on her. Friends also described her as someone who had talked about running away and starting a new life. But what actually happened to Ruth remains unknown. Did she deliberately disappear, hoping to leave her old life behind? Was she struggling with her emotions and considering ending her life? Or did she encounter someone on Box Hill and come to harm?
Episode 548:

The Secret In The Cellar

This is the story of Carol Jarvis, the questions raised by those closest to her, and the shocking truth that eventually emerged.
Episode 547:

A Festival Tragedy

A weekend of music, mountain biking and entertainment at the impressive surroundings of Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. But for one 18-year-old man with everything to live for, the weekend would end in tragedy. What happened during those final hours, and how did a celebration turn into a devastating event. This is the story of Alex Pilkington.
Episode 546:

Murder At The Wrong House

The story today is from Cheshire, when two childhood friends visit a family property, Boarded Barn, unaware that their lives are about to be caught up in a terrifying chain of events. This is a case involving mistaken identity, an extraordinary sequence of events and a murder investigation that would eventually uncover the truth. It’s a story that raises some difficult questions about chance, circumstance and how two completely innocent people became caught up in something that had nothing to do with them.
Episode 545:

The Man Behind The BlindFold

She spent more than 100 hours with the man she believed she loved – but she never saw his face. Kye Fortune was, to the woman at the centre of this case, a real person. They had built a relationship online and eventually met in person, but only on the condition that she wore a blindfold. What followed would lead to one of the strangest criminal cases in the UK, involving deception, identity, trust and consent. In this episode, I tell the story of Gayle Newland and the woman who believed Kye Fortune was real.
Episode 544:

The Last Journey

Rachel Thacker was just 21, with a new job, a new car and a future that seemed full of possibilities. A caring, outgoing and popular young woman, she had recently graduated with a degree in occupational therapy and was looking forward to beginning her career. After travelling to Manchester to celebrate a friend’s 21st birthday, Rachel spent the evening with friends before deciding it was time to head home. As she searched for a taxi in the early hours, a car pulled up. Rachel got into the passenger seat believing she had found a way home. But it wasn’t a taxi. Rachel had just got into the car of a dangerous predator. What happened next was shocking, brutal and would change the lives of everyone who loved her forever.
Episode 541:

The Killer Next Door

When you move into a small flat in a new town, just how much can you really know about your neighbours? Melanie Sturton had only recently left home to work and study when she moved into a flat in Aberdeen. She could have had no idea that someone living nearby would ultimately play a part in a terrible crime. Melanie was murdered, and in this episode I look at the shocking circumstances of the killing, the investigation and the trial.
Episode 340:

I wish I Had Stayed In Bed

Minutes before taking his own life, Michael Ryan looked back on the devastation he had caused in Hungerford. He had killed 16 people and injured 15 others. Then he told the police negotiator: “I wish I had stayed in bed.”
Episode 539:

The Deadly 40 Year Secret

Carol Morgan was a much-loved wife and mother whose life was brutally taken inside the family shop. What initially appeared to be a shocking and senseless murder would go on to raise questions that remained unanswered for decades. In this episode, we look at Carol’s life, the circumstances surrounding her murder, and the painstaking investigation that eventually brought long-buried questions back into the spotlight.
Episode 538:

The Murder of a Young Footballer

Jordan Sinnott was a young professional footballer whose life changed forever after a night out with friends. What began as an ordinary evening ended in a violent confrontation, leaving Jordan seriously injured and his family facing the devastating consequences. This is the story of what happened that night, the investigation that followed, and the search for justice for a young man whose football career and life were tragically cut short.
Episode 537:

The Man Who Never Came Back

Martine Vik Magnussen was a 23-year-old Norwegian student living in London, with a bright future ahead of her. After a night out with friends, Martine disappeared. What followed would become one of London’s most high-profile murder investigations, involving a suspect who fled the country and a family who have spent years searching for answers.
Episode 535:

A Crime of Pure Evil

The murder of Sadie Hartley is a shocking story of jealousy, obsession and a carefully planned killing. Sadie was a successful businesswoman from Lancashire who was attacked and murdered on her own doorstep. What followed was a complex investigation which uncovered a plot that had been developing for months. This episode looks at Sadie’s life, the events that led to her murder, the investigation that followed and how police eventually uncovered the truth behind what had happened.
Episode 534:

Hunting The Wrong Killer

Lawrence Haggart had everything to look forward to. A gifted teenage footballer who had already signed for Celtic and represented Scotland at youth level, Lawrence appeared destined for a bright future in the game he loved. But after an ordinary evening out with friends, his life was brought to a devastating end in a brutal attack that left his family and community searching for answers.
Episode 532:

The Surgeon Who Betrayed His Patients

For years, Ian Paterson was regarded as one of Britain’s leading breast surgeons. Patients placed their trust in him at some of the most frightening moments of their lives, believing they were receiving the best possible care. Instead, many underwent unnecessary or inappropriate operations that left them with lasting physical and psychological consequences. As concerns mounted, one of the biggest medical scandals in modern UK history began to unfold, raising serious questions not only about one surgeon’s actions but also about how he was able to continue practising for so long.
Episode 431:

Murdered After Night At Local Pub

In the Somerset village of Martock, 16-year-old Gemma Clarke disappeared after finishing a shift at her local pub. Home was only a short walk away, but she never arrived. In this episode, I examine the investigation into Gemma’s murder, how detectives identified the man responsible, and the lasting impact her death had on her family and the people who knew her.
Episode 528:

Murdered Weeks From Becoming A Mum

Maria Toomey was just weeks away from giving birth when she vanished. When police finally found Maria, they uncovered a quite dreadful scene that shocked even experienced detectives. This is a heartbreaking story from Hull of a life, and a future, stolen by an act of unimaginable violence.
Episode 527:

The Bogus Doctor

In today’s episode I look at the extraordinary story of a doctor who wasn’t at all what she seemed. For more than two decades, she practised medicine in the UK despite not being properly qualified, exposing serious failures in the systems designed to protect patients. It’s a story of deception, misplaced trust and missed opportunities – and one that raises uncomfortable questions about how such an astonishing fraud was allowed to continue for so long.
Episode 524:

The Stalker Who Walked Free

“Is it fair that a young lady who dresses to attract, the queen bee attracting the drones, the queen bee that dresses to kill… cries out foul because somebody finds her attractive?” Shockingly, those were the words of the defence barrister during the trial. Understandably, this sparked widespread outrage at the time and remains one of the most extraordinary examples of victim blaming in a British courtroom.
Episode 522:

Devil Worship, Obsession & Murder

Elizabeth Simms-Rees was a kind and trusting young woman whose life was brutally cut short at just 21 by someone she considered a friend. The man responsible, Richard Cullen, had a long history of violence and a disturbing obsession with the occult and devil worship. In this episode, I examine the events leading up to one of Swansea’s most shocking murders, the investigation that followed, and the lasting impact of Elizabeth’s murder.