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True Criminals

True Criminals

By: Audio Bleach Global
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 Winner of Outstanding Independent Podcast at this year’s True Crime Awards in London, True Criminals is your weekly deep dive into both historic and contemporary crime stories, hosted by Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero. With decades of frontline reporting experience, Martin and Helen go beyond the headlines to uncover exclusive insights and untold details from some of the most gripping criminal investigations. Each episode delivers powerful storytelling and rare access, featuring guests such as senior detectives, investigative journalists, bestselling authors, and individuals directly connected to the crimes. Whether it’s a high-profile case or one that’s never made the news, True Criminals offers a unique, behind-the-scenes view of the criminal justice system. Produced by Audio Bleach Global, the series is helmed by BAFTA-winning producer Russell Barnes. For questions and listener feedback, contact us at contact@audiobleachglobal.com Follow us: Instagram: @true.criminals YouTube: @True-Criminals TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with the hosts Martin Brunt on Twitter: @skymartinbrunt Read his book No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter – Buy on Amazon Helen Fospero on Instagram: @helenfospero Listen to her podcast The Convex Conversation: Apple Podcasts Credits Produced by: Audio Bleach Global Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: Andrew Chappell Original Music: Chap Mannequin Artwork: Bleached Learn more: audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals2024 True Crime World
Episodes
  • 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
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Packed with lots of detail, Martin and Helen don’t just know their stuff, they’ve been on the cases they discuss

Now this is how you make a true crime podcast

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