The Kidnapping of Stephanie Slater

BBC Local Radio
  • 4.7 (20)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS

A 25-year-old estate agent disappears in 1992 on a routine house viewing in the West Midlands. Andy Whittaker and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw look back on all the twists in this sinister story with a mixture of contemporary interviews, audio drama and BBC archive. There’s graphic descriptions of violence. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Michael Sams is played by Anthony Lewis. Julie Dart is played by Joanne Moore. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

  1. 01/24/2024

    Introducing: Undercover, The Spycops

    An undercover police officer is unmasked by the friends and lovers he was sent to spy on.

    5 min

  2. 07/02/2023

    S2.7 A new diagnosis

    Trauma expert Stephen Regel discusses what Stephanie went through mentally later life. Stephanie also explains some of this in her interview with Andy Whittaker before she died. Also, former police officer Ellie Baker explains the significance of Michael Sams’ typewriter and there’s a dive into the true crime archives to look at other kidnappings where a stranger was taken. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

    29 min

  3. 07/02/2023

    S2.6 “Remind your attacker that you are human”

    Dr Miriam Stoppard is overcome with emotion after learning that she helped to save Stephanie’s life through a book she wrote. Also, Stephanie’s best friend Stacey Kettner explains how Michael Sams set a trap for Stephanie in his Newark workshop to test her. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

    18 min

  4. 07/02/2023

    S2.5 The black panther

    Andy Whittaker continues to explore Michael Sams’ past with ‘Psycho Killer’ podcaster Simon Ford, the conversation turns to another well known criminal. Donald Neilson, known as ‘the black panther’, who served time in the same prison as Sams. Also in this episode, there’s a new revelation from former detective John Plimmer about how covert police officers were used narrow down the kidnapper’s location after Stephanie was returned. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

    22 min

  5. 07/02/2023

    S2.4 The hostage room

    Andy Whittaker and ‘Psycho Killer’ podcast host Simon Ford dive into Sams' past and uncover a startling revelation from a witness in the BBC Archives. Also in this episode, Julie Dart’s uncle Gary Atkin remembers the court case at Nottingham Crown Court. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

    17 min

  6. 07/02/2023

    S2.3 “The signs were there for her to see”

    Find out what happened when the police spoke to Michael Sams’ wife Teena. Former police detective Ellie Baker describes how difficult the interview was and there’s a shocking revelation from Teena in a television interview. Former police officer John Plimmer also shares how the case was prepared for court. Susan Oake is played by Kelly Dunn. DI Greenwood is played by Sebastian Sullivan. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

    19 min

  7. 07/02/2023

    S2.2 The Slater house

    Former West Midlands Police detective Ellie Baker lived at the Slater home in Birmingham during Stephanie’s kidnapping in 1992. Ellie explains how she prepared Stephanie’s father with techniques to keep the kidnapper on the phone if he rang. Also in this episode, Julie Dart’s uncle Gary Atkin takes Andy to the street in Leeds where Julie was kidnapped by Michael Sams. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

    19 min

  8. 07/02/2023

    S2.1 The Parole Board

    As the podcast returns for series 2, you’ll find out what the April 2023 Parole Board report says about Michael Sams and his suitability for release. We hear from Gary Atkin, Julie Dart’s uncle, who takes Andy Whittaker on a tour around the family’s home city of Leeds to see where Julie grew up, before her murder in 1991. This episode also features Rob McKeon from the Parole Board. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

    16 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

A 25-year-old estate agent disappears in 1992 on a routine house viewing in the West Midlands. Andy Whittaker and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw look back on all the twists in this sinister story with a mixture of contemporary interviews, audio drama and BBC archive. There’s graphic descriptions of violence. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Michael Sams is played by Anthony Lewis. Julie Dart is played by Joanne Moore. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

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