British Murders with Stuart Blues

In this episode, I tell the story of Fred Barras, a 16-year-old boy killed in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, on August 20, 1999. Fred and his friend, 29-year-old Brendon Fearon, were burgling the isolated farmhouse Bleak House when its owner, 54-year-old farmer Tony Martin, caught them in the act and unloaded his shotgun at them. Both men were hit, but only Fred died due to his injuries. Tony was handed...

I welcome Paul MacNamara to the show in this interview episode to discuss his debut book, 'The Criminal Class: Memoir of a Prison Teacher.' Paul was born in Sydney and has worked as an educator in several correctional centres in Australia. He has also worked as a teacher in the juvenile justice system. He never held a political position on the prison system and knew very little of the workings of...

In this episode, I tell the story of Joanne Nelson, a 22-year-old woman murdered in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, in February 2005. Joanne and her fiancée, Paul Dyson, lived together in Hotham Road North, Hull, but Dyson had a dark secret that Joanne was oblivious to. Not only did Dyson have previous criminal convictions, including the assault of his ex-wife on their wedding night, but he also i...

In this episode, I tell the story of Nicole Lewis, a 24-year-old mother-of-two murdered in Tuebrook, Merseyside, on March 5, 2002. Nicole and her fiancée, Mark Wilkinson, separated in February 2002 after a domestic incident the previous month. Mark had violently shaken Nicole so roughly after an argument that she had marks around her neck. A month after moving out, Nicole was invited to the couple...

I welcome Welsh filmmaker Rhys Edwards to the show in this interview episode to discuss his documentary, 'The Rev.' As a cameraman, Rhys has won many awards and filmed hundreds of factual and entertainment programmes, building a stellar reputation as a documentary filmmaker. 'The Rev' is a true crime horror documentary that explores the life and inner turmoil of Reverend Emyr Owen, a notorious Nor...

In this episode, I tell the story of Gillian Atkins, a 14-year-old girl murdered in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, on April 14, 1983. Gillian popped out to buy a packet of crisps that evening and was last seen standing alone on a bridge in the middle of the village between roughly 8:30 pm and 9:00 pm. She never came home, leading to a frantic search by her family and dozens of police officers, wh...

I welcome Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE to the show in this interview episode to discuss her book, 'The Governor: My Life Inside Britain's Most Notorious Prisons.' Having worked for 16 years in a high-security women's prison dealing with the likes of Rosemary West and Myra Hindley, Vanessa Frake-Harris thought she'd seen it all. That was until she was transferred to the notorious Wormwood Scrubs. Thrus...

In this episode, I tell the story of Kelly Hyde, a 24-year-old woman murdered in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, on September 27, 2007. Kelly dropped her car off at a local garage that morning as its MOT test was booked. As she walked home with her dog Scrappy, she was followed by a 16-year-old boy as she walked on a bridle path. Adrian Jones did not know Kelly, and to date, no motive has been establi...

I welcome Dr Honor Doro Townshend to the show in this interview episode to discuss all things true crime and criminology.​ Dr Townshend (BA (Hons), MSc, PhD) is a presenter, researcher and lecturer whose recent research projects have looked into illicit substance use, gender identities and crime, the dark web, and deviant subcultures. She has a background in studying all elements of criminology, f...

In this end-of-season special, I tell the stories of Terri Harris, John and Lacey Bennett and Connie Gent, who were murdered in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, on September 18, 2021. Terri and her two children, John and Lacey, lived in a property at Chandos Crescent, Killamarsh, with Damien Bendall, a man whom Terri had met on an online dating app after separating from Jason Bennett, John and Lacey's dad....

I welcome former Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Steven Keogh back to the show in this interview episode to discuss his second book, 'Murder Investigation Team: Jack the Ripper: A 21st Century Investigation.' In it, Steve applies modern-day investigative approaches to the 19th-century investigation through meticulous contemporary research, witness statements and reporting. He provides a fresh, n...

In this off-season episode, I bring you the story of the murders of Amy Minton, Arthur Minton, Richard Moran and Sarah Moran in a case commonly referred to as the Pottery Cottage murders. As told by my guest Sally-Anne Martyn, this case has fallen somewhat under the radar, given it took place slap-bang in the middle of the Yorkshire Ripper's killing spree. Escaped convict William Hughes held five...

I welcome Dr Keri Nixon to the show in this interview episode to discuss her career as a consultant forensic psychologist. Dr Nixon is chartered by the British Psychological Society (BPS), registered as a forensic psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and an associate fellow of the BPS. She has almost 20 years of experience in psychological services, policing and treatme...

In this episode, I tell the story of Avril Dunn, a 26-year-old woman murdered in Luton, Bedfordshire, on September 14, 1985. Avril went to The Heron, a local pub, that Saturday evening and was seen playing darts with some of the other regulars. Leaving at around 10.30 pm, Avril is thought to have been seen in the company of a tall, fair-haired man who drove away from the pub in a light-coloured Op...

In this episode, I tell the story of Barbara Waterhouse, a 5-year-old girl murdered in Horsforth, Leeds, on June 6, 1891. Whilst out playing with her friends, Barbara suddenly disappeared after last being seen perusing some advertisements through a shop window. Her body was discovered wrapped in a shawl four days later on Alexander Street in Leeds city centre, a stone's throw away from the To...

In this episode, I tell the story of George Russell, a 35-year-old Police Constable murdered in Oxenholme, Cumbria, on February 10, 1965. George and several other Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary officers attempted to hunt down an armed car thief and tracked him down to the waiting room at Oxenholme Lake District Railway Station. The gunman shot his revolver at George, killing him, as well...

I welcome journalist and writer Robin Jarossi back to the show in this interview episode to discuss his book 'The Real Ted Hastings: The True Story of the Copper at the Heart of Line of Duty' . 'Line of Duty' holds its status as today's defining TV crime drama. The conspiracy theme of the series chimes at a time when public institutions and representatives are distrusted. Ted Hastings, the show's...

In this episode, I tell the story of Ricky Wyatt, a 34-year-old father-of-one who was murdered in Laindon, Essex, on September 1, 2006. Ricky was confronted by 32-year-old Kathryn Taylor and 29-year-old Matthew Boulton in a car park on Little Lullaway before being stabbed by the former. The encounter was rumoured to have occurred over a £5 drug debt, but Judge Clegg dismissed that claim at Basildo...

In this episode, I discuss the story of Alan Livesey, a 14-year-old schoolboy and Army Cadet who was murdered in bizarre circumstances in 1979. On February 22, Alan was left home alone when his dad, Bob, left for his night shift, and his mum, Margaret, headed to the pub with her friend and secret lover. A few hours later, Alan was brutally murdered in his home, and his body was only discovered aft...

I welcome Martin Brunt to the show in this interview episode to discuss his career as a crime correspondent. Since joining Sky News for its launch in 1989, Martin has delivered a series of exclusive reports while covering the Cromwell Street killings, the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando, the trial of terrorist Carlos the Jackal, the London 7/7 bombings, the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and...

In this episode, I discuss the tragic story of Janet Commins, a 15-year-old schoolgirl who was sexually assaulted and killed in 1976. Janet had planned to meet her friends at the local swimming baths on January 7, but her mum, Eileen, did not permit her to go as she looked pale and unwell. Sneaking out and leaving a note behind, Janet was never seen alive by her parents again. This case features a...

I welcome Neil Woods to the show in this interview episode to discuss his career as a former UK police officer and undercover drugs operative. Neil worked undercover between 1993 and 2007, befriending and gaining the trust of some of Britain's most violent and unpredictable criminals. He's now an active member of the international drug policy reform movement. With the insight that can only come fr...

In this episode, I discuss the story of Jane Longhurst, a 31-year-old music teacher murdered by her best friend's partner. This chilling story of obsession, murder and justice began on March 14, 2003, when Graham Coutts killed Jane in his Hove flat. Coutts had been obsessed with physically harming women during sex since the age of 15 and fantasised about murdering someone in such a manner. He was...

I welcome Bethan Trueman and Chris Clark to the show in this interview episode to discuss their book 'The New Millennium Serial Killer: Examining the Crimes of Christopher Halliwell' . In the book, former police intelligence officer Chris and Bethan (one half of the true crime podcast 'Seeing Red' with co-host Mark) use their in-depth research to present a comprehensive study into convicted killer...

In this episode, I embark on a haunting journey into the tragic murder of Bella Nicandro, a 76-year-old woman whose life was brutally cut short in her shared apartment building in Notting Hill, London. Aaron Cook, Bella's 23-year-old neighbour, was responsible, and it was concluded that he was in the midst of a psychotic episode when he stabbed her to death on August 14, 2021. He had previous...