Crimewatch Episode 4 - Broadcast Date: 1st October 1984

 

Progress Report

A viewer called in to identify one of the two men who had robbed a London Building society.

A man had been arrested in connection with the rape of a German tourist in the New Forest.

Police had also received over 300 calls in relation to the murders of Gary Collins and Christopher Laverack.

A call from an anonymous caller had led police to re-open a file in the Beryl Culverwell murder.

New leads had also been found in the case of the Manchester Bogeyman who had been tricking his way into pensioners homes to rob them.

Janice Weston Murder

Solicitor Janice Weston was found in a ditch near the A1 in Cambridgeshire on 11th September 1983.

She had been bludgeoned to death.

She had last been seen in her office the day before. When police investigated Ms Weston's house, they found evidence of an unfinished meal. She had apparently left in a hurry, leaving behind her handbag. 

Her car had been stolen, presumably by her killer. It later turned up in Camden with a new licence plate and one of the tyres having been replaced.

The motive is unknown. Ms Weston's purse was inside her car with all the money inside and there was no sign of any sexual assault.

Status: Unsolved

Her case was re-opened in 2023 but no new leads have been found.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-66812075

Church Fires

On 19th March 1984, a fire broke out at St Peters Church in Sunderland. A man had been seen entering the church minutes before carrying a brown holdall.

Police linked this to another fire at St Oswald's Church in Durham on 7th March.

In both cases a caravan magazine had been used to start the fire.

Status: Unknown

Unable to find any meaningful information after the fires.

Incident Desk

Anthony Littler Murder

45 year old Anthony Littler was murder close to East Finchley tube station on 1st May 1984. He had suffered severe trauma to the head.

Police were looking for any witnesses who had seen Littler on the train that evening but in particular, they wanted to hear from the anonymous man who had called the ambulance after seeing Mr Littler in a pool of blood.

Status: Ongoing

In 2025, two men were charged with Mr Littler's murder. They are due for trial in April 2026.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/05/31/brothers-deny-killing-commuter-walked-home-tube-station-41-years-ago-23296568/

Mark Billington

15 year old Mark Billington disappeared from his home in Birmingham on 1st September 1984. He had ridden out on his bike early in the afternoon but never returned.

Status: Unsolved

Mark was later found hanging from a tree just outside Coventry. Initially thought to be a suicide, it soon became a murder investigation.

Despite appeals and the case being reopened in 2002, nobody has been charged with the murder.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-61435861

Building Society Robber

An armed gunman who robbed three building societies in Leeds and Sheffield.

Status: Solved

'Pink Panther' raider David Miller, stole £23,000 from building societies in eight different counties. He was arrested in May 1985 and sentenced to nine years in October.

Shropshire Star, 4th October 1985 

Minicab Murders

Investigating Officer: John Pole, Metropolitan Police

Possibly racially motivated murder of two minicab drivers in south London.

Stephen Sylvester had taken a fare in the early hours of 17th November 1983.

His car was found in the short-term car park at Heathrow Airport on 21st November. His body was found in the boot of his car and he had been stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack.

A British Army dagger was found in the car but was not the murder weapon.

On 30th March 1984, Pardeep Sangha was murdered in similar circumstances.

Sangha was found on a slip road off the A30 in the passenger seat of his car. He had been stabbed multiple times.

A US army knife was later found which the police believe to have been the murder weapon.

Status: Unsolved

Police believe the killer to have been a tall man, racially motivated and with a special interest in knives.

However, due to a lack of witnesses and limited ability of forensic evidence at the time, nobody has ever been linked to the murder.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/unsolved-murder-minicab-driver-found-17511072

CRIMEWATCH RE-WATCH Link: https://youtube.com/live/epNB2WMbGOM

Crimewatch Episode 3 - Broadcast date: 16th August 1984

 

Progress Report

Nick Ross and Sue Cook provide updates on previous months cases.

In the case of the 'After-Hours Gang', Nick names Dominic Gallagher and George Kendrick as the two men arrested for the robbery. Sue reveals the police are following up 43 new leads in the Caroline Osborne murder case. And in the case of the Woburn Abbey silver theft, it is revealed the water workers who found the haul had inadvertently interfered with a police trap to catch the thieves.

Christopher Laverack 'Carpet Bag Murder'

Investigating officer: Peter Baker, Humberside

Nine year old Christopher Laverack had been staying at his sister's house in Hull on 7th March 1984. His sister had left for work and her husband Stephen had been left in charge. At approx. 8pm, Stephen left Christopher unattended to visit the local pub. When he returned over an hour later, Christopher was missing and the TV set had been ripped from the wall.

A neighbour reported having seen a white car outside the house with its lights on.

His body was found on 11th March in a carpet bag, floating in a river 10 miles away at Beverley Beck. He had died of head injuries and been sexually assaulted.

Status: Solved

In 2010, Police sought a ruling that confirmed Christopher Laverack's killer as being his Uncle, Melvyn Read.

Read had died in prison in February 2008, serving time for child sex offences for which he had been convicted in 2003.

Police were able to link pollen found on Christopher's clothing and a brick found with his body to Read's garden nearby to where he'd been taken.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-19075183

Aladdin's Cave

John Bly attempts to re-unite more recovered goods with their owners. Of interest this month are some paintings (including a Renoir), some antique clocks, a chinese vase, a silver snuff box, some silver figurines and an Ivory drinking vessel.

Incident Desk

David Hatcher and Helen Phelps present more brief appeals from police for more information.

Yiannoulla Yianni Murder

Yianni had been raped and strangled in her Hampstead home in August 1982, she was 17. Police also believed her killer was now responsible for desecration of her grave.

Status: Solved

In 2016, James Warnock was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment (minimum 25 years).

Warnock, who was 22 at the time, claimed they had been in a relationship. Police were able to match Warnock to the crime scene using new DNA evidence, after he had been arrested for sharing indecent images.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/18/former-tiler-jailed-for-life-for-and-of-teenager-34-years-ago

London Building Society Robbery

Two men were wanted for the armed robbery of National and Provincial Building Society in Victoria Street, London on 9th January 1984.

Status: Partially Solved

In the October 1984 episode, Sue Cook revealed a viewer had called in and identified one of the robbers.

Forged Bank Notes

David Hatcher issues a warning about forged bank notes issued in Northern Ireland.

Status: Unknown

Details too vague to find anything specific.

Beryl Culverwell Murder

Police were following up a new lead in the Beryl Culverwell murder case. Culverwell had been murdered in her home in March 1978. Her body was found in the garage by her husband. She had been bound, beaten with a blunt object and stabbed more than 20 times. 

An anonymous call to police said her killer had a tattoo of a swallow on his face.

Status: Unsolved

Police have never been able to identify the killer or establish any motive. Mrs Culverwell had not been sexually assaulted, nothing had been stolen from the property and forensic evidence did not find anything amiss. The case was featured in a 2003 Crimewatch but no new leads were forthcoming.

https://thetruecrimeenthusiast.co.uk/who-was-the-widcombe-hill-killer

New Forest Rape

A 58 year old German tourist was subject of a rape in the New Forest. Police were looking for a West Indian man wearing multiple medallions and driving a green lorry.

Status: Solved

Jimmy Temple, a lorry driver from London was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 1985, for offences of attempted rape, causing grevious bodily harm and robbery.

Western Daily Press, 8th May 1985

Manchester Bogeyman

Investigating Officer: Brian Wood, Greater Manchester Police

A thief operating in the Manchester area had been tricking his way into pensioners homes, posing as officials or gas worker. He would then steal money and possessions from their homes.

Status: Unknown

Stories of thieves tricking their way into pensioners homes are easily found, linking them to any individual case less so.

Gary Collins 'Sussex Drugs Murder'

Investigating Officer: Bill Clements, Sussex Police

Gary Collins was a drug dealer from Hastings, known locally as 'the Man with the Dog'.

Collins was last seen leaving his home on 12th December 1983. Prior to this, he had frequently been visiting London and it is believed he may have been 'double dealing' (ripping off his drug contacts).

His body was discovered three months later in the woods near Brightling. He had a fractured skull and been stabbed multiple times. His dog Trudi lay dead beside him.

Police were interested in finding a blonde haired woman Gary had been seen with on least a couple of occasions. The same woman had reportedly been seen at Battle railway station (where Gary's car had been parked) with two other men on the day of Gary's disappearance.

Status: Unsolved

Despite police offering an amnesty to any criminals to come forward with any information and even enlisting help from the FBI, no new information was brought forward and the case remains unsolved.

https://historymap.info/1983_Gary_Collins_Murder

My Crimewatch Re-Watch link: https://youtube.com/live/HvPqyUPDkAw

Crimewatch Episode 2 - Broadcast Date: 12th July 1984

 

Sue Cook and Nick Ross provide updates on new leads received in Colette Aram murder and stamp theft featured in episode one. Additionally, a number of items had been reunited with their owners following the Aladdin's Cave.

Caroline Osborne murder

Investigating Officer: Alan Stagg, Leicestershire Police

33-year-old dog groomer Caroline Osborne was murdered while out walking her dogs in Leicester on 29th July 1983.

She had been seen walking through Aylestone Meadows. One witness reported seeing a woman being chased by a man through the meadows.

Her body was found the next day, she had been stabbed to death. One of the dogs had guarded her body all night.

Status: Solved

Caroline was murdered by Paul Bostock and he was convicted for her murder in 1986. Bostock was 17 at the time of Caroline Osborne's murder and in 1985, he killed again. Amanda Weedon was stabbed 39 times by Bostock, shortly after he had attended Caroline Osborne's grave.

Bostock was given a life sentence but was paroled in 2020.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-53999224

Guildford Armed Robber

Investigating Officer: Timothy Blake, Surrey Police

A smartly dressed man, possibly wearing a wig, attempted to rob a Securicor guard collecting takings from Sainsbury's in Guildford. He was foiled in his attempt, fired two shots in the air and escaped on a bicycle.

Status: Solved

Jeffrey Tucker had carried out a series of raids on Securicor vans around the South East over a two year period, totalling £165,000. He wore disguises in his raids and used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle. He was arrested by police following an attempted raid at a Savacentre in Gillingham in April 1985. Tucker was sentenced to 18 years in prison in September 1985.

Kent Evening Post, 27th September 1985

Incident Desk

Hilda Murrell Murder

Appeal for any witnesses in the murder of Hilda Murrell. Ms Murrell had been seen in the car of a man driving erratically down a country lane near her Shropshire home. Murrell was found dead in her home having been stabbed. Police are appealing for anyone who could identify the knife and if anyone had given a lift to a hitch-hiker along that road around the time of Ms Murrell's death.

Status: Solved

Andrew George, 16 at the time of the murder, was sentenced to a minimum 13 years in prison in 2005, where he still remains today.

However, conspiracy theories remain that George was a fall guy and Hilda Murrell was actually murdered by UK Secret Service. Murrell was a prominent anti-nuclear campaigner and her death was also linked with the sinking of the Belgrano (which started the Falklands War).

Hilda Murrell's death has been the subject of many books and documentaries.

https://hildamurrell.org/

https://www.s4c.cymru/en/press/post/65659/fresh-questions-raised-over-1984-murder-of-78-year-old-activist-in-s4c-documentary/

Kensington and Notting Hill Rapists

Appeal for any information relating to series of attacks by two men. Specifically, Crimewatch is looking for any information relating to a paper knife used in Notting Hill attacks.

Status: Kensington Rapist - Unsolved. Notting Hill Rapist - Solved

Tony Maclean, the Notting Hill Rapist, was given three life sentences in April 1989 for the rape of three women and 12 years for other offences.

Liverpool Post, 14th April 1989

The Kensington Rapist became inactive after 1983 for unknown reasons and has never been found.

Liverpool Post, 14th April 1989

https://thetruecrimeenthusiast.co.uk/the-notting-hill-rapist

Barclays Bank Robbery

Two men were filmed on a security camera robbing the Kensington Branch of Barclay's bank in Liverpool on 9th April 1984. A £5000 reward was being offered to catch the thieves.

Status: Unknown

Unable to find any further information on this case.

'The Fox' Rapist Hunt

Investigating Officer: Brian Pickett, Bedfordshire Police

A serial rapist who had been terrorising the Home Counties and was the subject of national attention. He earned his name by breaking into peoples homes and rearranging furniture into a 'Fox's Den'. He would also make himself meals and watch TV while his victims lay bound. Police feared his attacks were becoming more savage and eventually he could kill someone. He was described as having a soft, northern accent.

Status: Solved

Malcolm Fairley, originally from Sunderland, had moved to Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire in 1983. Flecks of paint from the scene of one of his crimes were matched to Fairley's own yellow Austin Allegro. He was arrested in September 1984 and confessed to 80 offences.

In February 1985, Fairley received six life sentences.

He died from a heart attack in prison in May 2024.

https://www.buckinghamshirelive.com/news/history/people-remember-the-fox-criminal-5049154

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgpg1xxrggo

Woburn Abbey Silver Raid

Investigating Officer: Brian Pickett, Bedfordshire Police

A gang of thieves broke into Woburn Abbey using ladders and disabled the security cameras. They stole £5 million worth of silver and heirlooms.

Status: Partially solved

The silver was recovered in July 1984 (roughly two weeks after broadcast). It was found by two water workers in a pump substation.

Shropshire Star, 28th July 1984

Last update I could find was from February 1986. Several people were questioned in regards to the theft but no evidence of any charges being brought.

Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle, 27th February 1986

The 'After-Hours' Gang

Investigating Officer: John Corrin, Merseyside Police

Two armed-men held 12 people hostage at The Old Stanley Arms in Liverpool for two hours after closing time on 12th February 1984.

The hostages were repeatedly beaten by the two robbers, who made off with £4000 in cash and jewellery.

Status: Solved

Dominic Gallagher and George Kendrick were found guilty of the robbery in June 1985. They had also carried out a similar attack at The Bluebell Hotel in Warrington, 10 days after the raid at The Old Stanley Arms.

Gallagher was sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Kendrick was sentenced to 12 years.

Crimewatch received particular praise in helping to solve the case.

Liverpool Echo, 15th May 1985

The Scotsman, 4th June 1985

Crimewatch Re-Watch link: https://youtube.com/live/YI_25YYZZcA

Crimewatch Episode 1 - Broadcast date: 7th June 1984

 

The debut episode of Crimewatch UK on BBC One, hosted by Nick Ross and Sue Cook.

Colette Aram murder

Investigating Officer: Bob Davey, Nottinghamshire Police

Description: On 30th October 1983, 16-year-old Colette Aram of Keyworth in Nottinghamshire left her home to walk to her boyfriends house. She was last seen at 8.10pm, after talking to some friends. A red Ford Cortina had been seen driving around the area, the driver trying to pick up young girls.

Colette's body was discovered at 9am the following morning in a field, 1.5 miles away from where she is believed to have been abducted. She had been raped and strangled.

Status: Solved.

Colette Aram's murderer Paul Hutchinson was eventually arrested in 2009.

Hutchinson's son had been arrested on a driving offence in 2008 and provided a DNA sample. On the night of the murder Hutchinson had stopped in a pub for a meal, the member of staff had noticed blood on his hands and a paper towel had been given to police. Hutchinson's son's DNA matched with the blood on the towel (which also contained Aram's DNA).

Hutchinson pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2010.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/jan/25/paul-hutchinson-jailed-colette-aram

Paul Hutchinson died from a drug overdose in prison in October 2010.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-15452142

Aladdin's Cave

A semi-regular feature in Crimewatch in which John Blyth of The Antiques Roadshow attempts to re-unite items recovered by police with their rightful owners.

Incident Desk

Appeals from the police for information that have not been made into full reconstructions (though some would get their own reconstructions later on). Presented by Chief Inspector David Hatcher and WDC Helen Phelps.

Eila Karjalainen murder

23-year-old, Finnish nursing student Eila was last seen hitch-hiking along the A40 on 7th August 1983.

Her body was later found in an undergrowth in Kings Wood, Oxfordshire on 23rd November, she had been strangled.

Status: Unsolved.

Despite a number of leads including her backpack and diary (with pages ripped out, possibly with the killers identity), Eila's killer remains at large.

https://medium.com/@darkkat/the-unsolved-murder-of-eila-karjalainen-e6279e8e1eb1

Caravan theft

A caravan modded for use by disabled people stolen from North London by a man using a false driving licence, claiming he needed it to rescue another disabled person.

Status: Unknown

Not enough information to find details of specific theft.

Safe Identification

Appeal to identify safes that may have been targets for theft by a gang of robbers.

Status: n/a

Mark Tildesley

Appeal for information on whereabouts of Mark Tildesley, a 7 year old who had disappeared from a fun fair in Wokingham on 1st June 1984.

Status: Solved

Mark's body has never been found but Leslie Bailey confessed to his murder in 1991. Bailey was a member of the 'Dirty Dozen' paedophile gang, led by Sidney Cooke.

Members of the gang were convicted of the murder of three children (Tildesley, Barry Lewis and Jason Swift) but believed to have been responsible for up to 20.

Bailey was murdered by a fellow inmate in 1993. Cooke remains in his prison with his most recent appeal for parole in 2025 having been rejected.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/killer-paedo-sidney-cooke-98-35400627

Juliet Rowe

Investigating officer: Tony Pearce, Devon & Cornwall Police

In September 1981, an armed man broke into the home of Mrs Rowe. She attempted to escape and was shot six-times with a pistol.

Status: Solved

Keith Rose was convicted for the murder of Mrs Rowe at Exeter Crown Court in 1991. He was already serving a sentence for the kidnapping and attempted ransom of businessman Victor Cracknell in 1990.

Before the attack on Mr Cracknell, Rose had boasted to Mrs Rowe's widower in a pub of having been questioned in connection with her death.

In 1995, Rose had briefly escaped Parkhurst prison.

In 2009, a Judge upheld Rose would need to serve a minimum 25 years in prison for the murder.

https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/20348378.juliet-rowe-killer-must-serve-least-25-years/

Stamp Theft

Investigating officer: Alan Goodman, City of London Police

£250,000 worth of stamps stolen from a van in St Mary Axe in the City of London. Police are appealing for any witnesses.

Status: Unknown

Unable to find any further information relating to this theft.

My Crimewatch Re-Watch link: 

https://youtube.com/live/XWUxhN83F7E