Shows
This Much is True CrimeEpisode 19: The Boomerang Burglar - back from AlbaniaWhy can't we deport 28 year old prolific burglar Dorian Puka back to Albania? He's been convicted twice of burglary in the UK, sent to prison and and kicked out back to Eastern Europe twice and yet he'a arrived back for a third time by illegal means and now he's claiming asylum. That allows him to move around freely until his claim is processed and in doing so he's flaunting spectacular wealth posting TikToks from nightclubs, Knightsbridge restaurants and gifting himself a new £200k Lamborghini. In this episode, Broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson c...2025-07-2339 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 18: A Pinch of SaltWhat's the latest on the Salt Path controversy?It's seven days on from the original bombshell accusations in The Observer that accused Raynor Winn and Moth of not being 'unflinchingly honest" in their multi million best seller The Salt Path. Raynor, real name Sally Walker, has rebutted the criticism, meanwhile the Observer journalists have unearthed another character from the past who claims Moth told him that he had just weeks to live -that was four years ago. And bookshops around the country are reporting back on sales and comments from customers and it doesn't look...2025-07-1527 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 17: Is The Salt Path bestseller just Cornish Cobblers?A bumper edition with allegations that the worldwide bestseller The Salt Path is fabricated in parts plus our take on the guilty verdicts for Erin Patterson, the Beef Wellington multiple killer. The Observer newspaper in the UK is either going to win awards or be sued out of business by Raynor Winn and her terminally ill husband Moth. It alleges the couple made up big parts of their triumph over adversity story including the claim that Moth is slowly dying from an incurable disease. The book has spawned two sequels and now a major motion picture...2025-07-0733 min
This Much is True CrimeEpisode 16: I killed the four sleeping students but I’m not saying whyBryan Kohberger this week escaped execution by firing squad by sensationally changing his plea to guilty of the murder of four students as they slept in their beds in Idaho in November 22. But why the PHD Criminology student, from a different University, picked on these particular victims is still a mystery as he’s refused to explain a motive. In this episode, Professor of Criminology David Wilson, who has met Kohberger’s tutor, analyses whether classroom teachings were behind the killings and reveals that he has to censor some details from students who are worryingly over keen on the mecha...2025-07-0643 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 15: Locked up, no bail for dangerous, guilty DiddyP Diddy's own admission that he's a violent thug that attacked his former girlfriend was instrumental in a Manhattan judge refusing bail at the end of an historic showbiz show trial today. Multi millionaire rapper Sean Combs was found guilty on two counts of transporting prostitutes across state lines but cleared of racketeering and sex trafficking, however, he could still be sentenced to 20 years. Martin Frizell and Professor of Criminology David Wilson were on the case minutes after bail was denied...2025-07-0330 min
This Much is True CrimeEpisode 14: I don’t like violence, I just happen to be good at itSecond part of our discussion with ex prisoner Kevin Lane and this time it’s personal. Frank and honest about kidnapping, torture and his disgust of sharing prison space with paedophile inmates, it’s a window into the world of a lifer - ‘fitted up’ as a contracted hit man for a murder he maintains didn’t commit.2025-06-2736 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 13: The Mortician, turning ash to cashWow, have you seen The Mortician, can you ever forget it? The true crime story of David Sconce and the Lamb Family Funeral Home and Crematorium in Pasadena is gripping, jaw dropping and all the more astonishing as Sconce himself tells the story of burning multiple bodies, harvesting organs, pulling gold teeth and even more! It's coincidental that this week (June 25 2025) Yorkshire funeral director Robert Bush appears in court in Hull accused of abusing the dead and mixing up ashes. Join Martin Frizell and Professor of Criminology David Wilson as they explore how some are prepared to make a...2025-06-2236 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 12: We Need to Talk to KevinKevin Lane is no angel but he says he’s not a killer. Growing up he was known as Lights Out Lane, settling scores, usually with violence. For much of his adult life, Kevin was in prison, first for kidnapping, which he accepts, then for a brutal murder, which he denies. He was convicted of being a callous hitman and sentenced to life but Kevin claims he was ‘fitted up’ and wrote 10,000 letters in protest, earning the label the UK’s Mr. Shawshank. He’s out with a tag on his leg now and joins broadcaster...2025-06-1732 min
This Much is True CrimeEpisode 11: Michelle Mone and the 'unsafe' PPE scandalGovernment lawyers are at the High Court demanding a massive payback from a company linked to Michelle Mone - £122 million pounds of taxpayers cash for faulty PPE that’s never been used. Almost thirty million pounds in profit from controversial deal, was put into a trust to benefit Baroness Mone and her children.Separately, detectives from the National Crime Agency are investigating the Baroness and her tycoon husband Doug Barrowman for possible criminal charges - the couple deny any wrong doing. So in this episode broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson examine the Mon...2025-06-1128 min
This Much is True CrimeEpisode 10: Mushroom Killer, The MotiveErin Patterson was either a calculating poisoner or, as she claimed, an appalling cook who accidentally killed three of her in laws with a Beef Wellington lunch laced with toxic mushrooms. Six weeks into the triple murder trial of the Australian mum of two and we are still no nearer to finding a clear motive for bumping off her estranged husband's parents and an aunt. Was it disputed family finances, a failure to help with school fees? And, if guilty, how did she think she'd ever explain all the lunch gathering dying - except her? Broadcaster Martin Frizell and...2025-06-0934 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 9: Diddy Done For?Britain's top criminologist assesses the trial of the century as Sean Diddy Combs , the Hollywood Hip Hop tycoon , fights for his empire and his freedom. Professor David Wilson explains the prosecution's gamble with a controversial charge against Diddy usually reserved for mob bosses. Have the years of brushes with the law finally caught up with the world famous rapper? Diddy's a violent thug who beats up women but is he a mobster? The Prof reveals his prediction of how the jury will vote for or against one of America's cultural superstars.2025-06-0231 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 8: Madeleine - Finally call off the search?Britain's top criminologist Professor David Wilson has studied the abduction of three year old Madeleine McCann for more than a decade and now, 18 years later since her vanishing from her bed by the Portuguese seaside, he says it's time to end the police search.The Met police still have a team of three working away funded by the taxpayer whilst the most likely suspect, Christian Bruckner could be released from jail later this year for an unrelated crime only to disappear for ever.Professor Wilson believes Christian B is the killer and new evidence unearthed by The Sun this...2025-05-2723 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 7: Castrate the Paedos and Rapists?Chemical castration is being rolled out in the UK for sex offenders and rapists but will it stop these sick men from reoffending again? And violent domestic abusers, muggers and thugs may well be released early from jail to free up spaces in Britains overcrowded prisons. Reporter and broadcaster Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson have opposing views on dealing with the men who ruin lives, especially young children.2025-05-2330 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 6: We jailed the wrong man for 40 years!Imagine losing almost forty years of your life? The chance to. have children, a career, homes, holidays - four decades worth that never existed. Peter Sullivan was freed from jail this week after serving 38 years for a crime he didn't commit. He maintained his innocence throughout despite being convicted of the murder of 21 year old Diane Sindall in 1987. All down to modern DNA that proved it wasn't him but his cries for help, for a review were turned down time and again. Martin Frizell and emeritus Professor of Criminology David Wilson try to make sense of Britain's longest miscarriage...2025-05-1826 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 5: Sycamore MoronsWhy would anyone want to chop down the world famous Sycamore Gap tree that had stood by Hadrians Wall for more than a century? The two hapless locals found guilty showed no remorse and still haven't explained their actions. Called cowards and morons during their trial, if they wanted infamy they succeeded but now they face up to ten years in jail. Martin Frizell and Professor of Criminology David Wilson discuss this absorbing case just hours after the jury returned the unanimous guilty verdict.2025-05-0930 min
This Much is True CrimeEpisode 4: Natalia Grace -The bizarre case that shocked the world.Was she a toddler with dwarfism or a grown woman who tricked a family into adopting her then threatened to murder them as they slept? Emeritus Professor of Criminolgy David Wilson and reporter/broadcaster Martin Frizell explore the odd story of Natalia Grace now made into the Disney+ production Good American Family. Somehow there’s a feeling the story’s not over yet.2025-05-0522 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 3: Modern Crime FamiliesDrug running, money laundering, extortion and racketeering, its all in a day's work for Britain's crime families and they are alive and well in the modern age. The Kray brothers may have cornered the market in likeable villains (unless you were a target) but there is a rash of new dramas based on gangster families in Britain and Dublin. If you are a fan of Kin, MobLand or This City is Ours, Martin Frizell and Professor David Wilson explore how true they are to the violent families whose turf wars are still as murderous as ever.2025-04-2824 min
This Much is True CrimeEpisode 1: America's worst ever serial killer?The bodies of eleven women and counting are the believed victims of the Long Island serial killer but there may be many more . It's a crime that had to wait for years to be taken seriously by corrupt police and would have gone neglected were it not for a band of grieving but determind mothers.Gone Girls is the powerful docu series from Netflix and we're looking at the case and the prospect that the main suspect is an even bigger monster than first thought.2025-04-2122 minThis Much is True CrimeEpisode 2: Prison guards in danger of being murdered?Three UK prison officers were viciously attacked by Manchester bomb plotter Hashem Abedi who threw boiling oil in their faces and slashed one so badly they were within minutes of death. Join Martin Frizell and ex prison governor and Professor of Criminology David Wilson as they discover why terrorist prisoners have special treatment and why it must change. How long before there's a murder of a prison guard on duty? Also the astonishing revelation that crime bosses have planted gang members within prison officers ranks after going through the official recruitment process.2025-04-1926 min