The Kidnapping of Stephanie Slater

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New episodes coming soon but in the meantime Andy Whittaker shares news of a 2023 parole hearing for Sams and explores how these proceedings work in the UK. Julie Dart’s uncle, Gary Atkin, explains the impact her murder has had on his family and there’s reaction from former West Midlands police detective John Plimmer. Includes conversations with Rob McKeon, Stacey Kettner and we hear from archive recordings with Stephanie Slater. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

Exploring Stephanie's lasting legacy through her work with UK police forces and their dealings with victims of crime. Andy Whittaker and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw ask whether lone workers and women in general any safer today than when Stephanie was kidnapped. Includes conversations with Tanya Bridgeman, Richard Lamplugh, Violet Alvarez from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Stephanie's best friend Stacey Kettner. There’s graphic descriptions of violence told in a mixture of contemporary interviews and BBC archive. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

Stephanie tries to heal from her ordeal and reveals more details of her captivity, some of which haunts her as she changes her name and starts to make a new life in the Isle of Wight. Meanwhile, the ransom money is found buried underground and Michael Sams is convicted. Andy Whittaker and Dr Julia Shaw explore these events, featuring conversations with former detective Bob Taylor, journalists Paula Boys-Stones and Simon Ford and Stephanie's best friend Stacey Kettner. There’s graphic descriptions of violence told in a mixture of contemporary interviews and BBC archive. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

After Stephanie is returned home, the kidnapper is the most wanted man in Britain. Michael Sams’ identity is revealed after a recording of his voice is featured on the BBC television show, Crimewatch. Andy Whittaker and Dr Julia Shaw explore what happened with former detectives Bob Taylor and John Plimmer along with Stephanie's best friend Stacey Kettner and psychologist Serena Simmons. There’s graphic descriptions of violence told in a mixture of contemporary interviews and BBC archive. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

The kidnapper tries to get his ransom money by directing the courier across the Pennines in Northern England in thick fog. Andy Whittaker and Dr Julia Shaw explore events from the day with former detectives Bob Taylor and John Plimmer along with Stephanie's best friend Stacey Kettner. There’s graphic descriptions of violence told in a mixture of contemporary interviews and BBC archive. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

Investigating links with a dangerous kidnapper after a young woman is taken from the Chapeltown area of Leeds and held for ransom. Andy Whittaker and Dr Julia Shaw explore this with former detective Bob Taylor and psychologist Serena Simmons. The kidnapper is played by Anthony Lewis. Julie Dart is played by Joanne Moore. There’s graphic descriptions of violence told in a mixture of contemporary interviews and BBC archive. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

Discover the bleak workshop where Stephanie Slater was held and hear the amazing story of how she managed to build a rapport with her captor. Andy Whittaker and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw discuss events from the day, with Stephanie's best friend Stacey Kettner, host of the 'Psycho Killer' podcast Simon Ford and former detective John Plimmer. There’s graphic descriptions of violence told in a mixture of contemporary interviews and BBC archive. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

A routine house viewing turns into terrifying nightmare as a kidnapper's carefully constructed plan succeeds. Andy Whittaker and criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw discuss events from the day, featuring Detective John Plimmer. There’s graphic descriptions of violence told in a mixture of contemporary interviews and BBC archive. For details of help and support in the UK, visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. Producer: Andy Whittaker. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Editor, BBC Radio Nottingham: Chris Pegg. Executive Producer: Kathryn Morrison.

A 25-year-old estate agent disappears on a routine house viewing.