UK True Crime Podcast

Essex Police was the police force that first realised that a serial sexual attacker was on the loose following three attacks in the Southend area. But as the number of attacks in other locations continued to increase, the inquiry became nationwide and was managed by the Met. By the time they made an appeal on Crimewatch, at least 22 attacks by just one man had been reported - in addition to all the others of which the police were unaware.

One man watching Crimewatch that evening from his home in Cornwall was certain that the culprit was his brother. He phoned Crimewatch, and this call led detectives to investigate across the south of England from Cornwall to Essex, and also to the bars of Torremolinos, on the trail of a DJ with a long history of sexual assaults.

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If you have single friends or family members you have probably been asked to introduce any single friends to them. As we know, this has the capacity to go wrong for numerous reasons.

But in the story today from London, John worked with and was good friends with Roger Frisbee who was a lovely, gentle and mild-mannered man so had no qualms introducing him to his sister June. At first things went very well and June and Roger married and had two children. But then the relationship began to deteriorate with terrible consequences.

Writing Credit:

Chris Wood

Last week, we heard about Roderick McLean who was sent to prison when police and customs officers captured a gang of eight drug smugglers off the Caithness coast. During the raid customs officer Alastair Souter was killed when he fell and was crushed between a customs cutter and the gang's boat. The drugs haul netted three tons of cannabis, valued at £10 million. McLean, the gang leader, was convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison.

This week we follow McLean in prison, but not for long as he soon escaped - was this with the help of the Security Services? - and his death in a seedy hostel in Streatham, London. We discover that his death poses many more questions than answers.

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Roderick McLean said it was important to 'always cheat: always win'. A larger than life character, McLean, known as 'Popeye', was sent to prison when police and customs officers captured a gang of eight drug smugglers off the Caithness coast. During the raid customs officer Alastair Souter was killed when he fell and was crushed between a customs cutter and the gang's boat. The drugs haul netted three tons of cannabis, valued at £10 million.

McLean, the gang leader, was convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison. But there is so much more than this to the story - not everything is quite as it seems.

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In the story this week from Cardiff, 26 year old Geraldine Palk was enjoying her life - she had a close family, lots of friends and a job she enjoyed. One night, she had been out with work colleagues in the City Centre and left the club after midnight. She shared a taxi home with three other people, and was dropped just yards from her home. But she never made it to the front door. The next day Geraldine's body was discovered by children playing.

Just who had killed Geraldine? And why?

Writing Credit:

Chris Wood