Sinister South

Season 2 episode 6! A flawless diamond, a gang of 'old school' crooks, and a JCB digger smashing through the Millennium Dome in Greenwich - what could possibly go wrong?  In this episode, Rach takes us inside one of the most audacious (and utterly disastrous) heist attempts in British history - the 2000 Millennium Dome raid. A gang of career criminals set their sights on the Millennium S...

This episode is one of the most heart breaking and complex cases we've ever covered—the tragedy of the Clarence children. In 2014, Tania Clarence, a devoted mother caring for three severely disabled children, reached an unimaginable breaking point. What led to this tragedy? How did a mother, battling exhaustion and isolation, fall through the cracks of a failing system? And what lessons can b...

Trevors Episode 4 of Season 2 is here!  In this episode, Rach tells us the story of the baffling case of Noel and Marie Brown, a father and daughter found murdered in Deptford, South London, under circumstances that seem more suited to a crime thriller than real life. Was Noel targeted because of his past? Was it a grudge, a gambling win gone wrong, or something else entirely? And how did Marie, a...

This week, we delve into the life and baffling death of Christopher Marlowe, Elizabethan playwright, suspected spy, and Deptford's most controversial tavern guest. From his ground-breaking plays like Dr Faustus to the rumoured espionage and heretical whispers that surrounded his life, Marlowe was nothing if not intriguing. But was his death really just an overreaction to splitting the bill (o...

Episode 2! After some debate over whether Hannah is secretly joining a Juice Plus cult, we're diving into a case that's as shocking as it is heartbreaking: The Lambeth Slavery Case. This week, we're unravelling the story of Aravindan Balakrishnan - better known as "Comrade Bala" and his radical Maoist cult that turned into a house of manipulation and mind control in Brixto...

We’re back, Trevors! It’s Season 2, and Hannah is kicking things off with a massive case that shaped South London’s history—the tragic story of Damilola Taylor. But before we get into the heartbreak, we’re catching up on New Year’s resolutions, caravans in Devon, and the questionable merits of sharing shoe shopping tips with cab drivers. Then, we dive deep into the case that shocked the nation: Da...

Well Trevors... we've made it to the end of season 1, and so just for you, we've done a "selection box" of murder from South London. Turns out, we have ZERO CHILL when it comes to festive crime, and while we thought we'd find a couple of tales about santa claus robbing a shopping centre etc... we just found more death and destruction!  So get cosy with your mulled wine, an...

Episode 31, and this week we're looking into the callous murder of Sarah Mayhew. This case is a really recent one, with the perpetrators not having been sentenced yet so expect some updates in the future! Listen as Hannah walks us through the details of the case as we understand them, and help us untangle the concept of how in a "killer couple" the woman always seems to be seen as l...

Episode 30 is here!  This week, we’re taking a deep dive into some of South London’s most tragic stories tied to mental health care—and let’s just say, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster. We talk about the harrowing murders of Ilona Czuper in Mitcham, Eileen Dean in Catford, Maureen Watkins in Peckham and Florise Corette in Brockley.  From heart breaking failings to moments that make you question how t...

This week, we unravel the devastating case of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, two sisters whose lives were tragically stolen during what should have been a beautiful celebration. From their bond as sisters to the horrific failures that compounded their family’s grief, we explore it all—including a killer’s unhinged “demonic pact” and the unforgivable actions of certain officers who were supposed...

Episode 28 Trevors!! In this episode, Rach (yes we know, it should be Han, but life got busy) dives into the harrowing case of Harriet Staunton, a wealthy South London woman subjected to unimaginable cruelty at the hands of her husband and his accomplices. From the chilling neglect she endured to the courtroom spectacle that shocked Victorian England, this story will leave you feeling icky... But...

Episode 27!! We're heading back to Southwark! In this episode, we uncover the tragic story of Dina Sharpe, a South London woman whose love and trust were betrayed in the worst way. Dina believed she’d found a future with Stephen Singer, but instead found herself caught in his web of lies, deceit, and a love triangle gone horribly wrong. What begins as a volatile relationship spirals into a ch...

In this episode Han takes us through three tragic stories of LGBTQ+ individuals who faced violence and hate in South London, including both solved and unsolved cases. We uncover the lives behind the headlines, the struggles for justice and the harsh realities of hate crimes in our community. We'll cover the cases of Jacob Bornkamp, Geoffrey Windsor and Jody Dobrowski. But it's not all mu...

Hi Trevor's, Hannah here... I'm putting out a public service announcement, this episode is all for Rach, I couldn't give a damn about Halloween, but I quite like her and she loves it. She calls it her "Spiritual Holiday", so...I buckled to the pressure and we've done an episode with a bit of a twist (I say twist, we're pretty sure EVERY true crime podcast does so...

In this episode of Sinister South , we dive into the deeply tragic case of Banaz Mahmood, a young Kurdish woman from South London whose life was taken in a devastating honour killing. After enduring years of abuse in a forced marriage, Banaz sought help from the police five times, only to be tragically failed by the very system meant to protect her. We unpack the cultural pressures behind honour-b...

In episode 23 of Sinister South , we're diving into the chaotic world of Johnny Darke, a volatile South London gangster.  His criminal empire crumbled when he clashed with John Bindon, a feared enforcer with ties to rockstars and royalty. From pub rackets to murder trials, we uncover how Darke’s reign was brought to a brutal end, blending crime, celebrity, and unexpected twists. Also hear how...

Episode 22, this was a recommendation as a case from @jomydarlingclementine over on Instagram! This week, we’re taking you through one of the most harrowing events in South London’s history: the 1981 New Cross Road Fire. What started as a birthday party turned into a nightmare, with 13 young black people tragically losing their lives. Was it an accident, or something far more sinister? We’ll unrav...

Episode 21! This week, Hannah tackles the baffling case of Lee Boxell, a 15-year-old football fan who seemingly disappeared into thin air in 1988 from his home in Cheam, near Sutton. Was he off to catch a local match, or did something more sinister happen?  Despite extensive investigations and a few strange leads, Lee’s fate remains a mystery to this day. Join us as we delve into the baffling deta...

Episode 20! Bloody hell trevors! If you're still here, good on ya! In this baffling episode, we explore the brutal 1934 murder of Robert James Venner, a well-known tailor from New Cross who was found staggering in his shop with fatal head wounds. Was it a robbery gone wrong. or was there something more sinister at play? Despite multiple suspects this case remains unsolved nearly a century lat...

In this chilling episode, we dive into the brutal 1979 murder of Sally Shepherd, a woman whose tragic death in Peckham has left more questions than answers. Was it a random attack, or could it be the work of one of Britain’s most infamous killers? Join us as we explore the grim details of the case, including bizarre theories that point towards the Yorkshire Ripper himself. Spoiler alert: there are...

In episode 18 we meet grade A dickhead Mark Acklom, a man with more personas than a secondary school drama club. From fake MI6 agent to high-flying (or should we say, fraud-flying) businessman, this episode takes you through Acklom’s greatest hits—like the time he got a mortgage at 16, convinced a woman he owned an airport, or that minor incident of a €14 million property scam. Spoiler: If someone...

Episode 17! Trevor's, we're back to our usual dark stories! Hannah delves into the pretty heart breaking and brutal murder of Alison Shaughnessy. What seemed like a picture-perfect marriage quickly unravelled into a story of betrayal, jealousy and a deadly love triangle. We're generally interested in where Alison's husband got his audacity because it's truly egregious (and...

Trevor's...we've decided to give you a break this week with a lighter, more chilled episode! In fact...it might even be a true crime story...without any crime... We're taking a break from the usual intensity and diving instead into the quirky world of a religious sect; the Plumstead Peculiar People, Mary Ann Girling and her Jumping followers. But before we get into the madness of re...

Episode 15 hears Han tell the story of the "Adam" torso case, where the discovery of a young boy's torso in the River Thames, London, on September 21, 2001 takes us on a wild ride into ritualistic murder, cutting edge scientific investigation and proper horrible descriptions of child abuse...yeh sorry Trevors!  Over 20 years on, "Adam"s real identity is still unknown, the...

Episode 14 of Sinister South looks at the tragic case of Sabina Nessa, a 28-year-old primary school teacher whose life was brutally cut short while walking through Cator Park in Kidbrooke.  Rach explores the details of the investigation, the impact on the community, and the broader issues of women's safety that this case brought to light.  But don't worry, it's not all heavy, Hannah...