Women in southwest London lived in terror after a string of sex attacks on lone commuters travelling from Waterloo to Kingston. The police were desperately trying to locate a man believed to be responsible for half a dozen rapes over a three-month period in late 1988. Just days before Christmas, it seemed the rapist had crossed another line: he was now a murderer… *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot...

A man in his early twenties stood at the side of the road waving at the passing cars to get attention — eventually, a vehicle with two men inside parked up beside the desperate motorist. The would-be rescuers jumped out of their car and approached the man who stopped them. He opened his mouth to speak, something that he would come to regret. The smell of alcohol from his breath hit their nostrils. They knew he had been drinking, and the two police officers were going to do something about...

PLEASE LISTEN TO ‘SEASON 8 - EPISODE 31’ FOR PART ONE OF THIS TWO-PART CASE. One of the most horrific murders in Birmingham’s history occurred two days before Christmas in 1959. During the seven weeks that followed, hundreds of officers interviewed thousands of men in what was then the most extensive murder inquiry the city had ever seen. The investigators utilised a number of unprecedented techniques to try and track down the killer, but it seemed as though a routine house call was all that...

On the evening of December 23, 1959, a young woman named Margaret Katibeh was getting ready to leave her hostel lodgings to see her family for the festive period. As she was packing her suitcase, she heard a scream… (Part 1 of 2) *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production direction by Rosanna Fitton Narration, editing...

The Railway Tap on Bishops Bridge Road in West London was often the scene of drunken fights in the late 1970s and early 80s. Despite its reputation, it was one of the most popular pubs in the Bayswater area. When a barman failed to turn up to work, the pub landlord had an inkling that something didn’t seem right…  *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script editing, additional...

The latter years of a person’s life unfortunately involve making arrangements for when they die. These arrangements typically include organising their finances, writing a will, and planning a funeral. Thankfully, services exist that can assist in these situations, but as is often the case during this time, a vulnerable person can be susceptible to being exploited. Some people are willing to prey on the elderly in order to better their own situation, and some will go even further than taking...

In February 1974, a two-and-a-half-year-old went missing. For four hours, dozens of police officers and relatives of the toddler searched the area. His older brother had been looking after him while they were out playing but came home not knowing where his sibling was. The youngster was eventually found, peacefully asleep in the long grass a short distance from his home. It was an incredible relief for his worried family. Unfortunately, this happy ending wouldn’t be granted in the case of...

Dan Brockley was driving along Woodside Road, close to Woodsome Hall Golf Club in Huddersfield, when a woman stumbled out of the tree line and into the road. It was dark and quiet when the female suddenly appeared, shortly before midnight on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Dan instinctively slammed his foot against the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt. The woman scrambled to the passenger side door and pleaded with him to let her in. She was visibly distressed and dishevelled. When Dan...

PLEASE LISTEN TO ‘SEASON 8 - EPISODE 25’ FOR PART ONE OF THIS TWO-PART CASE. Michael Gilbert had been living with the Watt family on and off since 2001. At first, he believed he had found a haven, away from life on the streets, but Michael soon realised that his sanctuary was, in fact, a nightmare… (Part 2 of 2). *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Emily G. Thompson, Rosanna Fitton and Eileen Macfarlane. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot...

Arlesey has stood the test of time. It is mentioned briefly in the Domesday Book of 1086 and has been through many reinventions over the centuries. It has witnessed the births and deaths of thousands of fleeting occupants, but nothing in Arlesey’s varied history could compare to the horror of one man's murder in 2009… (Part 1 of 2). *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Emily G. Thompson, Rosanna Fitton and Eileen Macfarlane. Edited by Joel Porter...

There was no evidence that the stranger was alive — no slow rise and fall of the stomach or chest, not even a hint of cold morning air visible from his mouth. While one of the pair called for an ambulance, another rang a neighbour to tell them what they had found. That neighbour wasted no time in getting to the alleyway. She looked at the deceased man and immediately recognised him as a local, who lived on the estate...  *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and...

The television series ‘Midsomer Murders’ has been on-air since 1997. In a fictional rural setting, each episode of the British crime drama sees an individual harbour dark secrets as part of the ongoing whodunnit murder mystery. In a curious twist of life imitating art, the picturesque village of Furneux Pelham in Hertfordshire became an unwitting backdrop for a real-life murder mystery in 2004. An elderly man had been found dead on the front doorstep of his Grade II listed cottage. News...

The ceilings were low, and the space was cosy in the 15th-century Woolpack Inn pub. Two couples were enjoying their evening meal when a commotion caught their attention. A regular patron had just fallen off a tall wooden stool, knocking over other people's drinks in the process. She was clearly intoxicated and agitated. The woman got back up and was goaded into a car, but was never seen alive again… *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Rosanna...

PLEASE LISTEN TO ‘SEASON 8 - EPISODE 20’ FOR PART ONE OF THIS TWO-PART CASE. After the public release of a letter that was thought to be written by Colette Aram’s killer, the investigation seemed to slow down. Christmas was approaching, but Colette's family had no reason to celebrate. They decided to forgo the usual decorations — no Christmas tree, no tinsel, no presents. Colette's mother, Jacqui, expressed the sad reality of losing a child, "There is no joy in our house now, only a deathly...

As Halloween swiftly approached on October 30, the residents of Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, were busy preparing. Doorsteps displayed carved pumpkins, and bowls filled with treats were being stocked to hand out to trick-or-treaters the following night. On that same dark autumn evening, a teenage girl in Keyworth left her home to see her boyfriend. She had made the journey many times before, but there was no way of knowing this night was different… (Part 1 of 2). *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED...

PLEASE LISTEN TO ‘SEASON 8 - EPISODE 18’ FOR PART ONE OF THIS TWO-PART CASE. After serving 16 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Stefan Kiszko was acquitted and released. He died less than two years later. Lesley Molseed’s killer was still unidentified, but as so much time had passed, there was little chance the murderer would ever be brought to justice, especially after most of the evidence had been destroyed… (Part 2 of 2) *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED...

The murder of a vulnerable child causes sadness and unease throughout the country. The authorities are desperate to take a violent predator off the streets before they take another life. Within two months, it looks as though they have succeeded. But things are seldom straightforward, and rarely what they seem… (Part 1 of 2). *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script editing,...

The Probation Service and Parole Boards are meant to safeguard our communities. However, no organisation or independent body is immune to errors or shortcomings. If they fail in their duty, then dangerous people can be released straight into the path of innocent victims… *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Emily G. Thompson. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script editing, additional writing, illustrations and production...

Easter weekend 1998. An 18-year-old goes missing on the way to see a relative in Leeds. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she was approximately 14 times more likely to become a victim of violent crime. The race was on to find the vulnerable young woman, but no one could be prepared for what they saw when they found her…  *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Emily G. Thompson and Rosanna Fitton. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script...

Most parents would do almost anything to save a child's life. Some are fortunate enough to be able to afford whatever treatment is needed, but money can’t buy everything. In 2023, a landmark case highlighted just how far one family was willing to go to help their child, even at the cost of someone else's... *** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***     This episode was researched and written by Eileen Macfarlane. Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions. Script editing, additional writing,...

Advancements in technology and home security have allowed people to feel safer than ever in their homes. CCTV systems are more accessible, and mobile phone apps can be used to receive alerts within seconds regarding movement outside a property. Generally, these notifications are triggered by a delivery driver or a welcomed guest, but sometimes that visitor has bad intentions. Home security systems can assist users to raise the alarm. However, in October 2021, a furious father to a young child...

Double jeopardy is a legal principle that somebody cannot go on trial for the same crime more than once. The rule, over 800 years old, was put in place to protect the innocent against judicial misconduct that could see them convicted, even after being found not guilty. A pivotal shift occurred twenty years ago, with the UK's double jeopardy law undergoing a significant transformation through the Criminal Justice Act 2003. This introduced substantial reforms, particularly for serious crimes....

A couple living on a farm in Kempsey, Worcestershire, had been having issues with their septic tank for some time. Two maintenance companies had been employed to fix the problem, but frustratingly, it was still blocked. On July 12th, 2019, a third company sent out a worker to drain the septic tank on the 500-acre farm. While emptying the tank, the pipe suddenly became blocked. When the worker cleared the obstruction, he discovered a mass of human hair was causing the problem. He thought it...

At first glance, the Foster family possessed all the trappings of a picture-perfect life; a sprawling mansion worth £1.2 million nestled in the quiet expanse of Maesbrook, Shropshire, a privately educated daughter, and a fleet of luxury cars. In the summer of 2008, everything changed in an instant. As dawn broke on August 26th, an explosive eruption jolted the neighbourhood awake, drawing sleepy residents from their beds. Flames engulfed the Foster’s lavish home, and thick smoke penetrated...

Early on an autumn morning, the emergency services received a call that a teenager was unresponsive in Newtown, Wales. It was Saturday, October 10th, 2020. What the panicked woman on the other end of the line described was a far cry from the typical teenage weekend drinking sessions that ended with alcohol poisoning or injury. The caller was the motionless girl’s grandmother. She contacted the emergency services as she had received a call from her son, Alun Titford. Alun was panicked. There...