Concluding the sad tale of 13 year old Southampton girl Lucy McHugh - and would Stephen Nicholson be convicted of her rape and murder? We look at this, and developments in the case following here. One of the saddest tales I have covered. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, involving a child and including descriptions of a sexual nature, that some listeners may find disturbing or distressing, so discretion is advised whilst listening in. Music used in this episode:...
Jul 18, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 10Ep. 3
Continuing the opening Series 10 tale of The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast with the tragic case of 13 year old Southampton teenager Lucy McHugh, killed most brutally one July morning back in 2018. Police soon had a suspect, an arrest, and the investigation ultimately led to murder, rape and unlawful sexual conduct charges being raised against 24 year old Stephen Alan Nicholson, a lodger at Lucy's home. So, lets hear about his trial for these? The episode contains details and descriptions of crim...
Jul 15, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 10Ep. 2
The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast returns for Series 10 with a tale from back in 2018, a dive into the tragic case of 13 year old Southampton teenager Lucy McHugh, who set out to keep an appointment one warm July morning - and never returned. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, involving a child and including descriptions of injury detail, that some listeners may find disturbing or distressing, so discretion is advised whilst listening in. Music used in this episo...
Jul 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 10Ep. 1
Back in the early 1980's, Peter Alan Fell was several things: Falklands and Northern Ireland war hero, Army Boxing champion - so how then did he, in July 1984, come to be stood in the dock of Winchester Crown Court charged with the brutal murders of Hampshire women 42 year old Ann Lee, and 66 year old Margaret Johnson? Brilliant detective work - or not? Find out in the second and concluding part of a two part story. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including de...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 40
On a cold spring day in May 1982, two friends, Ann Lee and Margaret Johnson, set off for what would be their final dogwalk together around a familiar area of common land to them in the town of Aldershot, in Hampshire. Their final walk, because during it, Ann and Margaret met a crazed killer. Yet, within hours of the murder, had their killer called police and given his name and address? And when this wasn't acted upon, had he then called again just over a year later, to confess to the killings? I...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 9Ep. 39
Cruelty is never far away from some homes - some people suffer largely in silence, and when that cruelty begins to show, they will come out with allsorts of reasoning. 'I fell. I bumped into this or that'. It's a very real thing is domestic violence, and the tale I bring this time around shows it isn't always the archetypal abuser that is commonly perceived. Sometimes, sadly, it ends in utter horror and tragedy. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descri...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 9Ep. 38
The Lost Girls multi-parter comes full circle this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast, as for the final part I housekeep the tale of Susan, Caroline, Sarah, Theresa and Jennifer. We look at the years following Black’s crimes for their families, at all developments in the tale overall, and ask the question: How many more Lost Girls are there out there? The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including disturbing descriptions of a sexual nature and involving child...
Apr 19, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 9Ep. 37
The new red bicycle had fast become her pride and joy, all of her friends had seen it, and one sunny afternoon in August 1981, nine year old Jennifer Cardy set off from her home in Ballinderry to cycle the short distance to show the first friend she had it again, so excited was she. As a small Datsun van passed her as she did, Jennifer had no idea that a predator, a monster, was waiting for her. It would take thirty years, but the wheels of justice did eventually turn for Jennifer, and the indiv...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Season 9Ep. 36
In April 1994, Robert Black, laid bare in all of his foulness, was to face trial charged with the abductions of Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg, Sarah Harper and Teresa Thornhill, and the murders of the former three. Was justice in sight for the Lost Girls whose haunting stories we have heard throughout this tale? Well, this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, I shall tell you. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including disturbing descriptions of a s...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 35
On 1st April 1992, ten court summonses for crimes including multiple murder, abduction, prevention of a proper and lawful burial and kidnap were served on a 43 year old prisoner serving life at HMP Peterhead in Aberdeenshire - a prisoner serving life for the abduction and sexual assault of a six year old girl in July 1990. His name? Robert Black. Continuing with The Lost Girls multi episode tale then this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, was the individual heading to trial for t...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 9Ep. 34
'That's our man. I'd bet my life on it' These are the words of Assistant Chief Constable Hector Clark back in July 1990, moments after the initial, briefest of meetings with the man he was describing here, who just over a month later, was serving a sentence of life imprisonment for an almost carbon copy crime to the series he and his team had been investigating for eight years by then. Continuing with The Lost Girls multi episode tale then this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, w...
Mar 16, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 9Ep. 33
It was a simple, quick detour to avoid prying eyes - and it was fortunate that it was just that too, a quick detour, for if it wasn't, then perhaps Teresa Thornhill wouldn't be here today. That evening in Nottingham in April 1988, she very certainly only narrowly escaped the clutches of death, thanks in part to the survivor she was. Because she was the survivor, her evidence would later be crucial in bringing to a very definite end the reign of arguably, Britain's most prolific child killer. Thi...
Mar 08, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 9Ep. 32
The corner shop was just 150 yards away from her home, and the journey was one that ten year old Sarah Harper had made countless times before - just two minutes walk away. Yet, on a cold and wet evening in March 1986, on that two minute walk back, Sarah was to disappear..... This is Sarah's story. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of a sexual nature and involving a child, that some listeners may find disturbing or distressing, so discretio...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 9Ep. 31
Continuing with The Lost Girls series arc, and in the summer of 1983, almost a year to the day, the fear that Susan Maxwell's at large killer could strike again was suddenly realised, when on a warm Friday evening in July, a five year old girl didn't come back in from the final five minutes play she had been allowed before bedtime. This is Caroline's story. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of a sexual nature and involving a child, that so...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 9Ep. 30
Continuing The Lost Girls Arc on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, we now go back to Northumbria in 1982, and a chance walk home for a young girl after a game of tennis... The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of a sexual nature, that some listeners may find disturbing or distressing, so discretion is advised whilst listening in. Music used in this episode: "The Descent" by Kevin Macleod. All music used is sourced from https://filmmusic.io/ a...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 9Ep. 29
The 9th Series multi episode arc begins this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, through which we shall timejump over a long period, and in which I bring you the full, in depth tale of who is/was very likely, Britain's most prolific child killer, one who if the cases he is suspected of are laid at his feet, will dwarf those of Brady and Hindley, perhaps even Cotton and Dyer. This is a true monster here, who we will get to meet. But this time around, lets start with how he was captu...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 9Ep. 28
Completing the two part tale concerning the murder in September 1994 of 38 year old Carol Wardell - abducted from home by a gang of raiders, who, after beating and drugging her husband Gordon, forced her to open the building society in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where she was deputy manager, emptied the safe, and then suffocated Carol, dumping her body in a layby. At least, that was Gordon's account, anyway.... The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptio...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Season 9Ep. 27
The discovery of a woman's body in a rural Warwickshire layby in September 1994 was the start of what would become to detectives one of the most complex investigations in Warwickshire Police history, and would ultimately lead them to a cold and calculating killer. This time and next on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, I shall bring you the story. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events that some listeners may find disturbing or distressing, so discretion is advised w...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 9Ep. 26
"I have just murdered my wife in her bed. I have just stabbed them, and slit their throats. His name is Martin Griffiths. There is blood everywhere. This has just happened. My children are safe at my mother's house" This was the context of a call to an emergency services operator in the early hours of New Year's Day, 2020, the implications of which were to rock the village of Duffield, in Derbyshire, to the core - and leave three families destroyed. The episode contains details and descriptions ...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 9Ep. 25
We head up to the Scottish Highland city of Inverness, and back to the early 2000's this time on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, for a harrowing tale of a crime that shocked Scotland to the core, a definition of cruelty, evil, and a hauling over the coals of a system that, so tragically, failed a little girl. 5 year old Danielle Reid. Hers is a name that following this, I doubt you will forget. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of injur...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Season 9Ep. 24
The Hampshire beauty spot of Farley Mount Country Park, located near the city of Winchester, is a popular destination in daylight hours for families, joggers and dog walkers, whilst of the evening, it takes on a different kind of visitor - couples, and the voyeuristic who enjoy watching these for their own gratification. During the 1990's, it was also the scene of several disturbing incidents and attacks by an offender who to this day, remains at large, having never faced justice. Or did he? The...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 9Ep. 23
There is a saying, Revenge is a dish best served cold. For the tale this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, we head back to 1983, and over to Ireland's capital city of Dublin, for a bleak tale where revenge was served cold-blooded. Revenge which ended in triple murder. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of violence and descriptions of a sexual nature that some listeners may find offensive or distressing, so discretion is advi...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 9Ep. 22
Pilot, Cruise Ship Captain, successful businessman, gifted salesman, entrepreneur, property renovator, heir to a massive fortune, able to drop claims of rubbing shoulders with political figures, all whilst living a champagne lifestyle. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? This time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, we meet an individual who was all that and more. On paper, and according to him, anyway - but one who left a costly trail of devestation in his wake. The episode contains detail...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 21
Rememberance Day - a day where we should each give thanks, respect and thoughts to those who through their sacrifices are why we have the freedoms we do today. To be proud. The countless former and serving members of the Armed Forces who each display the medals that they have earned do so with this in abundance, recognition of such sacrifices and bravery they have each earned. And yet, there are many people who also do this - but without the commitment, hard work and bravery that it takes to do ...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 9Ep. 20
I used to watch a great sci-fi show back in the 90's called The Pretender, about a genius who could become anything he wanted to be, fit into any walk of life, which he used to do to help people. The people we will meet this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast are in no way geniuses though - for some people don't let trivialities such as qualifications or aptitude get in their way - and instead, rely on a bit of shopping, the gift of the gab, and more front than Brighton to get by. ...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 9Ep. 19
"E AH A DE OH - The Farmer Wants A Wife" goes the old nursery rhyme. This time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, we head to Hertfordshire and back to 2018, where we will hear the tragic tale of a farmer who, if he could have, would have certainly wanted a better wife. One who, along with her lover, wanted nothing more than him dead. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of a sexual nature, that some listeners may find disturbing and...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 9Ep. 18
We head to the East Yorkshire city of Hull this time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, where one bright April evening in 2016, the resident of number 9 May Street got the shock of her life as she peered into the garden of the neighbouring property.Amongst the various clutter and discarded rubbish in the garden was a duvet. Out of which, was poking a human leg.... The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of injury detail, that some list...
Oct 14, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 9Ep. 17
If a person makes an enemy, the chances are that the circumstances or events that has led to such a thing will not extend further than a series of harsh words exchanged, occasionally a physical confrontation, and a years long, perhaps lifelong dislike of that person. This time around on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, we head to Liverpool and back to 2008 for a tale of a feud that festered over years, and led to the most horrific and tragic of circumstances. The episode contains details and d...
Oct 07, 2024•58 min•Season 9Ep. 16
Evil, once it is inside a person, never really goes away - it may remain dormant for many years, but it is always there. To the horror of a Peterborough family back in 2018, the evil that was dormant in one such individual stirred with the most horrific of consequences - at the same time, reactivating the nightmare that a Derbyshire family had spent almost four decades trying to deal with. The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, involving a vulnerable adult and a chil...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr•Season 9Ep. 15
Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 classic Dial M For Murder is a celebrated work that has been remade for both the big and small screen, and the stage, and which concerns the tale of a cheating wife, a scheming husband, and an elaborate murder plot. In 2007, a court in South Wales was to hear it's very own version, and just how life imitated art... The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, including descriptions of a sexual nature, that some listeners may find disturbing and or d...
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Season 9Ep. 14
