Episodes

  • True Criminals: Most Wanted – Operation Captura | In Partnership with the National Crime Agency & Crimestoppers

    True Criminals: Most Wanted – Operation Captura | In Partnership with the National Crime Agency & Crimestoppers
    May 14 2026
    In this special episode of True Criminals, we examine the latest Operation Captura campaign, the long-running international manhunt led in partnership with the National Crime Agency, Crimestoppers, Spanish law enforcement, and UK policing partners. Marking 20 years of Operation Captura, authorities have released a new Most Wanted list featuring 12 fugitives believed to be hiding in, or linked to, Spain. The men are wanted in connection with serious offences including murder, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Since launching in 2006, Operation Captura has helped locate and apprehend 98 out of 111 fugitives featured through public appeals — proving that information from the public can make a real difference. Areas linked to this year’s fugitives include Tenerife, Marbella, Alicante, and Malaga. As the National Crime Agency states: “Spain is not a safe haven for fugitives.” ⚠️ IF YOU SEE OR RECOGNISE A FUGITIVE, DO NOT APPROACH THEM. REPORT THEM IMMEDIATELY. ☎️ UK CRIMESTOPPERS: 0800 555 111☎️ CRIMESTOPPERS SPAIN: 900 926 111 ALL REPORTS TO CRIMESTOPPERS ARE COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS.Crimestoppers is an independent charity. They do not ask for your name, cannot trace your call or IP address, and you will never have to give evidence in court. Your information could help bring dangerous offenders to justice while keeping your identity protected. Find out more:• National Crime Agency• Crimestoppers UK• Operation Captura ................................ Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠. As an ind ependent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition:BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • The Brink’s-Mat Gold Heist | With Special Guest Former Flying Squad Commander Roy Ramm | PART 1

    The Brink’s-Mat Gold Heist | With Special Guest Former Flying Squad Commander Roy Ramm | PART 1
    May 11 2026
    When six masked men burst into the Brinks Mat warehouse near Heathrow in the early hours of 26 November 1983, they expected cash. Instead, they stumbled upon nearly 6,800 gold bars worth £26 million, the biggest bullion robbery in British history. What followed would become one of the most notorious and far reaching criminal investigations the UK has ever seen. In Part One of this special three part series from True Criminals, hosts Martin and Helen unravel the violent raid that shocked Britain and changed organised crime forever. From terrified security guards and an inside man who opened the vault doors, to career criminals Kenneth Noye, Brian Reader and “Mad” Mickey McAvoy, we trace the chaotic first days after the robbery and the desperate race to turn stolen gold into cash. Joining us in the studio is former Metropolitan Police Commander and former head of the Flying Squad, Roy Ramm, who brings extraordinary insight into the investigation from the perspective of Scotland Yard. Roy explains how Brinks Mat marked the beginning of a colder, more sophisticated era of British organised crime, and why the murder of Detective Constable John Fordham changed the case forever. This is the story of greed, violence, corruption and the “Curse of Brinks Mat”, a case whose fallout still echoes decades later. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition:BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • Charles Bronson Thrown Into The Cage as Parole Looms | True Criminals Briefing

    Charles Bronson Thrown Into The Cage as Parole Looms | True Criminals Briefing
    May 5 2026
    Just as he appeared to be edging closer to release, Charles Bronson was abruptly transferred to one of the most restrictive environments in the UK prison system. In this True Criminals briefing, we examine the circumstances surrounding his sudden move to HM Prison Wakefield and his placement inside what is known as the cage, effectively a prison within a prison. The decision was made without prior warning to his legal team, raising immediate concerns. Access to his solicitor was limited, his artwork withheld, and no clear explanation was provided by the authorities. The cage itself is reserved for those deemed the highest risk, involving extreme isolation and minimal human contact. The timing is particularly significant. Bronson’s parole hearing, already delayed, is expected later this year, and recent expectations had been that he would move to a less restrictive regime to demonstrate progress. Instead, events appear to have taken a markedly different course. There has since been a development. Bronson has been moved out of the cage and into a Close Supervision Centre, though conditions remain tightly controlled. Questions persist as to why these decisions were taken and what impact they may have on his bid for release. This episode sets out the latest verified information, the concerns raised by his legal team, and the wider implications for a case that continues to attract national attention. ........................ Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.truecriminals.co.uk for more information Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    8 mins
  • Muriel McKay: Have They Finally Found Her? | True Criminals Briefing

    Muriel McKay: Have They Finally Found Her? | True Criminals Briefing
    Apr 27 2026
    In this episode of True Criminals, we revisit the haunting case of Muriel McKay, the 1969 kidnap victim whose body has never been found. Joining us in the studio is her grandson Mark Dyer, who shares a deeply personal update on the family’s relentless search for answers. After offering a one million pound reward, a new lead emerged that pointed to a possible burial site behind a betting shop in East London, triggering a dramatic excavation and a discovery that briefly raised hopes of a breakthrough. But as forensic testing begins and questions remain, we ask the crucial question: could this really be her, or is this another dead end in one of Britain’s most enduring mysteries. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition:BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • Toni-Ann Byfield: The Hunt for "Cane" – with former Assistant Police Commissioner Neil Basu (Part 2)

    Toni-Ann Byfield: The Hunt for "Cane" – with former Assistant Police Commissioner Neil Basu (Part 2)
    Apr 7 2026
    The trail for a child’s killer had gone cold. The investigation was, in Neil Basu’s own words, “wobbling.” Then, from the shadows of North West London, a single street name emerged: Cane. In the gripping conclusion of this two-part True Criminals special, Neil Basu QPM returns to reveal how the hunt for Toni-Ann Byfield’s murderer stretched from the streets of London to the heart of Toxteth, Liverpool. What follows is a story of calculated risk, psychological strategy, and a detective determined that no grieving family should ever feel “second best.” In Part 2, Neil reveals: • The Toxteth Manhunt – The bold move of taking Metropolitan Police surveillance into Liverpool 8, and the cross-border cooperation that kept the operation alive• The “Crimewatch” Trap – How a carefully planned TV appeal sparked a panicked confession from inside a prison cell• The Interview Room Gambit – A moment of psychological strategy, as a detective adopted a “doctor’s” persona to place the killer at the scene• The Breaking Point – Neil’s candid reflection on the emotion of the Old Bailey trial, and why failures in social services still resonate in this case Read Neil’s memoir, Turmoil: 30 Years of Policing, Politics and Prejudice:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turmoil-Years-Policing-Politics-Prejudice-ebook/dp/B0DG9DVMTK?ref_=ast_author_mpb Listen to his podcast, The Crime Agents:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-crime-agents/id1820933088 Support the show and listen ad-free on Patreon:www.patreon.com/truecriminals You can also donate via PayPal:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals on Instagram: @true.criminalsSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals Connect with Martin Brunt on Twitter: @skymartinbruntRead his book: https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY Connect with Helen Fospero on Instagram: @helenfosperoListen to The Convex Conversation: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575 True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global.Find out more: www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals Executive Producer: Lee MannProducer: Russell BarnesAudio Production: BLEACHEDMusic Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Toni-Ann Byfield: The Investigation – with former Assistant Police Commissioner Neil Basu (Part 1)

    Toni-Ann Byfield: The Investigation – with former Assistant Police Commissioner Neil Basu (Part 1)
    Apr 2 2026
    In the early hours of September 14, 2003, seven-year-old Toni-Ann Byfield was fatally shot in the back inside a cramped bedsit in North London. She became a tragic victim of a violent drug feud—an innocent child caught in the crossfire after witnessing the murder of the man she knew as her father, Bertram “Blacker” Byfield. In this exclusive two-part episode of True Criminals, we’re joined by Neil Basu QPM, former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the Senior Investigating Officer who led Operation Trident’s pursuit of the killer. In Part 1, Neil shares: The intense pressure of leading a “Category A” murder investigation in the aftermath of the Macpherson Report How a single “broken cigarette” clue nearly caused the case to collapse The emotional toll of supporting grieving families while managing 16 other homicide investigations The pivotal moment when a national TV appeal changed the course of the case Neil Basu is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most accomplished detectives. After a distinguished career tackling organized crime, gang violence, and terrorism, he retired as Head of UK Counter-Terrorism and the highest-ranking officer of color in British policing history. Read Neil’s memoir: Turmoil: 30 Years of Policing, Politics and Prejudice – an unflinching account of his career, including the Toni-Ann Byfield case. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turmoil-Years-Policing-Politics-Prejudice-ebook/dp/B0DG9DVMTK?ref_=ast_author_mpb Listen to his podcast: The Crime Agents on Apple Podcasts, where Neil explores how major criminal investigations unfold behind the scenes. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-crime-agents/id1820933088 Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Is Lucy Letby Innocent? Dr Svilena Dimitrova Explains the Evidence | Part 2

    Is Lucy Letby Innocent? Dr Svilena Dimitrova Explains the Evidence | Part 2
    Mar 16 2026
    In the second and final part of this special two-part series, True Criminals continues its examination of the case of Lucy Letby — the neonatal nurse convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Letby is currently serving multiple whole life orders, following convictions secured after a lengthy investigation by Cheshire Police known as Operation Hummingbird. At trial, the prosecution argued that babies were deliberately harmed through methods including air embolism, insulin administration and physical interference. But the case has since become the subject of intense debate among some medical experts, legal commentators and campaigners who question whether the convictions are safe. In this episode, Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero explore the ongoing arguments surrounding the evidence presented to the jury — including the medical testimony, statistical analysis and clinical interpretations that played a central role in the prosecution case. Our guest once again is consultant neonatologist Dr Svilena Dimitrova, who has reviewed large parts of the medical evidence used during the trial. She discusses why she believes some of the conclusions presented in court are deeply flawed, raising questions about issues including the interpretation of insulin test results, the statistical chart used to link Letby to baby collapses, and the clinical understanding of events inside the neonatal unit. Dr Dimitrova also addresses the controversial question of whether systemic failures within the hospital — including staffing pressures, clinical oversight and wider NHS challenges — may provide alternative explanations for some of the tragedies that occurred on the unit in 2015 and 2016. The episode examines why the defence at trial called no expert medical witnesses, the role played by prosecution expert testimony, and the debate now unfolding among specialists about how complex neonatal medicine was presented to a jury. We also explore what could happen next in the legal process. Letby’s legal team has asked the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to examine the case, a step that could potentially lead to the Court of Appeal reviewing the convictions if the commission finds grounds that they may be unsafe. At the centre of this story remain the babies who died or collapsed and the families who continue to live with the consequences of those events. Their loss is profound and enduring. This podcast examines the evidence and the arguments with care, recognising the complexity and sensitivity of a case that continues to divide opinion across the UK. .................................... Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Is Lucy Letby Innocent? Dr Svilena Dimitrova Explains the Evidence | Part 1

    Is Lucy Letby Innocent? Dr Svilena Dimitrova Explains the Evidence | Part 1
    Mar 4 2026
    In this two-part episode of True Criminals, we explore one of modern Britain’s most debated true crime cases: is Lucy Letby innocent? This Lucy Letby podcast looks at the case of the neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others, with an additional attempted murder conviction added after a 2024 retrial. She is serving 15 whole life orders following the Cheshire Police investigation, Operation Hummingbird, which alleged deliberate harm including air embolism, insulin poisoning, and physical assault. We are joined in the studio by Dr. Svilena Dimitrova, consultant neonatologist and patient safety expert advising the defence. Dr. Dimitrova reviews the medical evidence in the case, including insulin poisoning claims and the death of Baby O, and considers how clinical errors, system pressures, and data interpretation may have influenced the investigation and trial. Part One revisits the Countess of Chester neonatal unit in 2015–16, a high-pressure environment facing staff shortages and rising infant deaths. We explore how the police investigation unfolded, the expert testimony presented in court, and the questions that continue to be raised by legal analysts, medical experts, and the public. At the centre of the story are the babies and their families, whose loss is profound. This episode examines the Lucy Letby case with care, presenting the events, the evidence, and the ongoing debate over the convictions. ....................................... Support the Show Ad-free and bonus content here: Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ Follow True Criminals Instagram: ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins