In the early 2000s, the death of five-year-old Danielle Reid became one of the most disturbing child murder cases in Scottish criminal history. What began as concerns around neglect in Inverness would later expose a far more troubling picture, involving repeated warnings, unanswered calls, and safeguarding failures that, in hindsight, are difficult to comprehend.

Danielle was a bright, affectionate little girl who had only just started her first term at a new school. Around her were adults and institutions who believed she was safe, or at least not in immediate danger. But behind closed doors, a very different reality was unfolding. What happened to Danielle raises uncomfortable questions about responsibility, child protection, and how vulnerable children can slip through the cracks, even when concerns are raised.

Read the independent review I mention within the episode below:

Independent Review Into The Circumstances Surrounding The Death Of Danielle Reid

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British Murders with Stuart Blues

Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

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In November 1967, a gunman walked into a classroom at St John’s RC High School in Dundee. What unfolded that afternoon left a young teacher fatally wounded, a school traumatised, and a case that would echo through the Scottish justice system for decades. It became one of the most shocking crimes in Dundee’s history, yet one that is often reduced to a single moment, stripped of its wider consequences and complexities.

At the heart of this case is Nanette Hanson, a 26-year-old newly married teacher remembered as gentle, dedicated, and fiercely protective of her pupils. But this story does not end with her death. It unfolds into a far broader and more troubling examination of violence, accountability, punishment, and how victims are remembered long after headlines fade.

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

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Twenty-two years after Harold Shipman’s death, the consequences of his crimes still loom large over British medicine and public trust in GPs. In this remastered episode, I revisit a two-part series from my archives, now presented as one continuous story.

This episode explores how Shipman abused his position as a trusted family doctor, the patients who were left vulnerable, and the failures that allowed his crimes to continue unchecked for decades.

More than five decades on from the first confirmed murder, this case remains one of the most disturbing betrayals of trust in British criminal history.

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

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On a winter’s night in December 1996, after a couple pulled into a lay-by in the West Midlands, the woman claimed they’d just been victims of a violent road rage attack. The man, her fiancée, lay dying from multiple stab wounds. What followed would become one of the most infamous murder cases in modern British criminal history - a case that split public opinion, dominated tabloid headlines, and introduced a narrative many were too quick to accept.

For years, this case has been lazily labelled a so-called “femme fatale” murder - a phrase that risks turning a brutal killing into something stylised, even seductive. But strip away the media caricatures, the courtroom theatrics, and the mythology built around it, and what remains is the death of a young father, Lee Harvey, and a family left to grieve while the country argued over the person responsible.

Buy Maureen Harvey's book Pure Evil below (not an affiliate link):

Pure Evil | Amazon UK

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January 1, 2026 marks 31 years since Fred West took his own life while awaiting trial for a series of horrific crimes that shocked Britain. This special episode features a rare and insightful conversation with Geoffrey Wansell, the journalist and author commissioned to write West’s official biography following his death.

Geoffrey brings a unique perspective shaped by extensive research, exclusive access, and decades of experience covering some of the UK’s most notorious cases. In our discussion, he reflects on the challenges of documenting West’s life, the realities behind the investigation, and the responsibility that comes with telling such a dark and complex story.

Check out 'Blood Ties', a true crime podcast hosted by Geoffrey and Molly Wansell:

Podcast Feed | Blood Ties Podcast

Instagram | @bloodtiespodcast

YouTube | @bloodtiespodcast

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. The views and opinions expressed by my guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or its host. This episode is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only.

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In place of a regular episode, this Christmas Day I’m sharing a short, heartfelt message - think of it as the Yorkshire version of the King’s Speech.

This brief Christmas Day special touches on the importance of connection at this time of year, acknowledges how difficult the season can be for many, and reflects on the victims and families behind the cases we’ve explored throughout 2025.

Thank you for listening this year, for supporting the show, and for being part of this growing community across Yorkshire, the UK, and over a hundred countries worldwide.

I wish you a very Happy Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year when it comes.

Cheerio, Stu x

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Christmas parties are meant to be a time to unwind - a few drinks, familiar faces, and a break from the everyday routine - but the festive season also brings real and often overlooked dangers.

In this episode of True Crime Catch Up, Adam and I explore the deadly reality of one-punch killings, where a split-second act of violence can end one life and permanently destroy another. We examine how these incidents typically unfold on nights out, the role alcohol plays, and whether sentencing for one-punch manslaughter truly reflects the harm caused.

We also look at other risks that spike during the festive period, including fake taxi drivers and drink spiking. From offenders impersonating licensed cabbies to gain trust, to the growing number of spiking cases that never result in charges, we break down the methods used, the legal challenges involved, and the devastating impact on victims. Alongside real cases, we discuss prevention, public awareness and personal safety - asking whether more can be done to stop these crimes before tragedy strikes.

True Crime Catch Up is a new weekly podcast in which we discuss the true crime stories that deserve your attention. Watch or listen every Wednesday as we unpick the stories that are gripping the nation, expose the details of untold misdemeanours and revisit the infamous crimes that made the headlines in years gone by.

It's your one stop shop to get caught up on everything you need to know about the true crime stories that need your attention.

Follow True Crime Catch Up on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠social media⁠ so you don't miss an episode!

Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Christmas Eve 2003, a quiet residential street in Willenhall looked exactly how it should. Lights in the windows, presents under the tree, and two young sisters excitedly counting down the hours until Father Christmas arrived.

By the end of the night, three lives were lost, and a close-knit community was left trying to understand how something so devastating could happen inside what appeared to be a happy family home.

As police began piecing together the final hours of Lisa Higgins and her daughters, Keighley and Demmy, a very different picture started to emerge. One that revealed hidden fear, carefully made plans, and a truth that only came to light once it was far too late. This is a story about what we see, what we miss, and how danger can exist behind closed doors, even during the most celebrated time of the year.

Just to clarify: throughout this episode I pronounce Keighley as “Keith-ley”, based on how the town in West Yorkshire is said. I grew up nearby, so I defaulted to that pronunciation without a second thought. I’ve since been made aware that Keighley’s name may be pronounced differently, and if that’s the case, I’m genuinely sorry. Thank you for your understanding.

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse and feel frightened of, or controlled by, a partner, an ex-partner or family member, it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault, and there is no shame in seeking help. Free, confidential support and advice is available to victims and their concerned family members or friends, 24 hours a day:

England | Refuge | 0808 2000 247

Scotland | SDAFMH | 0800 027 1234

Wales | Live Fear Free | 0808 80 10 100

Northern Ireland | DSA | 0808 802 1414

UK-wide | Men’s Advice Line | 0808 801 0327

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In December 1990, a young woman walked the final few yards towards her home in Cardiff, but never made it through the front door. What happened in those final moments remains one of the most unsettling mysteries South Wales Police had ever faced, sparking an investigation that would stretch across an entire decade.

When 26-year-old Geraldine Palk failed to return home after her work’s Christmas party, her friends were confused, her family was worried, and within hours whispers began spreading through Fairwater.

As detectives traced her last known movements through busy nightspots, taxi queues, and the quiet residential streets she knew so well, a far darker story began to surface. One involving frantic appeals, national TV reconstructions, an unidentified man seen running from the crime scene, and a tiny piece of evidence that would, years later, prove crucial.

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April 1996, a quiet council estate in Falkirk became the centre of one of Scotland’s most unsettling domestic murder investigations. When 35-year-old Eleanor Harrison suddenly disappeared, friends, neighbours, and relatives were left searching for answers, and detectives quickly realised her absence was far from ordinary.

What followed was a deeply disturbing inquiry that exposed a volatile home life, a fractured mother-son relationship, and allegations that painted a far darker picture than anyone first imagined. As forensic officers worked through the flat and witnesses began to come forward, the truth behind Eleanor’s disappearance became increasingly chilling.

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Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.